Tripura: Corporate support provides relief to gymnast Ashmita, Govt missing!

AGARTALA, Dec 24: With the state's ruling Left Front government failed to assist poor and promising gymnast Ashmita Paul (15) in her sports career, the corporates have now come up with assistance for budding sports persons in the state.

Paul was today handed over a one-time financial assistance of Rs. 2 lakh and a pledge to provide a monthly stipend of Rs. 20,000 by Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL). The corporation's Executive Director (HR&HRD) Amit Ray handed over the assistance in a felicitation programme at Agartala this afternoon.

Asmita is being billed as the next Dipa Karmakar of India. She represented India at the World School Gymnastics Championship held in Turkey in July this year. Ashmita gave an outstanding performance at the 61st National School Sports held at Telengana earlier this year as well apart from commendable feats in a number of state, regional and national level gymnastics competitions held in Tripura and beyond. Paul was named second in the National Women's Sports Meet held in February this year.

While respective state governments and other bodies have come up in support of their sportspersons, Tripura happens to be a black sheep – one who has never stepped beyond offering a small-time government job to sports stars.

The Government of Nagaland earlier gave away Rs. 58 lakh cash award to 305 sports achievers. Manipur followed suit too by providing cash awards to six Olympians from the state.

Tripura's Left Front government, on the contrary, chose to stay put and allow petty scholarships of a few hundred rupees,

Asked if they were planning on extending further support to sportspersons from Tripura, GAIL Executive Director Ray today said that they would continue with initiatives of helping our deserving sports-stars in the days to come.

Dipa Karmakar's mentor Bishweshwar Nandi, who has also coached Ashmita Paul, joined the felicitation ceremony today as well. He urged the GAIL authorities to consider sportspersons for their support activities other than gymnastics as well. "There are a lot of deserving candidates out there in the North East", he said.

(TNT News)

(Featured Image Source: Internet/ Representational)