Rathore gives Rs21k to poor hockey player

Our Correspondent

Advertisement

Hamiprur, December 18

Kuldeep Rathore, president of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), has provided a financial help of Rs 21,000 to Neha, a national hockey player who sells fast food in a kiosk in the town.

Deepak Sharma, a senior spokesperson for the HPCC, handed over the cheque for Rs 21,000 to Neha here today.

The poor girl started getting help after her poor financial condition was highlighted in the media recently.

Lives in tin shed

• Neha lives in a makeshift tin shed in Hamirpur town
• The Sports Authority of India had selected her for her excellent hockey skills while she was in Class VIII
• She refined her skills at the SAI sports hostel at Dharamsala
• She has represented the state twice in the Junior National Hockey Championship and won the silver medal once
• She has also represented Panjab University, Chandigarh, in weightlifting in National University Games

Neha was forced to work and leave hockey and studies after her father, the only breadwinner of the family, fell sick.

Sharma said that Rathore had shown deep concern for the players who had brought laurels to the state in various sports. He added that the Congress would make a rational policy to address the problems of such players.

“It is unfortunate that players, who have given their time and energy to sports, are living in such pathetic conditions,” he said.

He said that the Congress would consider it on priority to provide employment to players so that they need not have to struggle for their survival.

He added that the state government should look into the matter sympathetically and financially help such players.