Sporting queens push for rewards after World Cup glory

Himachal has tasted significant success on the sports field over the last few months. The sportswomen from the state have been part of the three World Cup winning Indian teams, namely kho-kho, cricket and kabaddi. And they weren’t there just to make up the numbers, they played a key role in India’s triumph in these World Cups. In kabaddi, nearly half of the squad, including skipper Ritu Negi and vice-captain Pushpa Rana, hail from the state, demonstrating the dominance of Himachal girls in the sport.

Having won the World Cup, the players are now looking at the government for suitable rewards for their effort. The triumphant kabaddi players have already met and apprised Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of their expectations regarding cash awards and jobs. “We’ve given so many years to sports and have achieved so much for the country. Now, we hope the government will acknowledge our achievements and offer us suitable jobs so that our post playing-days life is secured,” said Pushpa Rana, the vice-captain of the kabaddi team.

The Himachal government has a policy for cash awards and jobs in places for outstanding sportspersons. While the sportspersons are entitled to 3 per cent quota in government jobs, cash awards for achievers in top sporting events like Olympics, Asian Games and Common Wealth Games are as lucrative as in Haryana, the leading state in sports.

While Rana is all praise for sports quota, which is availed by even the School Nationals medallists, she points out that distinction needs to be made between top-achievers and someone who had merely participated in the Nationals. “Having won the World Cup and Asian Games gold, I would expect a Class I job. The high-achievers should be offered jobs of DSP, DSO, etc, which has been done in the past in some cases,” said Rana.

Besides, the players are expecting the same cash award as announced for cricketer Renuka Thakur. “The government has announced Rs 1 crore cash award for Renuka. We hope we will also get the matching award,” the players told the CM when he met them. A sports official said that suitable jobs and good cash awards to top achievers without too much delay send out a positive message to young children and their guardians about pursuing sports as a career.

The bigger question for the sports fraternity in the state is how to sustain the momentum these sportswomen have provided with their performances at the international level. Anurag Thakur, the newly-elected Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association president, floated the idea of organising State Games, a multi-disciplinary event on the lines of National Games, a while back. Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association secretary Rajesh Bhandari says the association has already started working on the plan. According to Bhandari, the State Games will create a buzz around sports, which will help build up sporting culture in the state.

“The players will get a high-quality event to participate in. With competitions in different events taking place simultaneously, it will create buzz around sports and go a long way in promoting sports,” said Bhandari. He hoped the events would also help create sporting infrastructure, where the state is lagging far behind in comparison to the neighbouring states. “We will rope in the state government and seek its help to improve and build infrastructure,” he said.