Boxing School Nationals Medallist Is Now Working As A Parking Attendant. Is This How We Treat Our Sportswomen?

Looking at the Tokyo Olympics and India’s reigning champions in the games, one thing is clear – that all these athletes have had to sacrifice and fight for their dreams to come true. None of them have had an easy journey – especially the women athletes. We as a nation are not exactly encouraging to athletes but like with anything else, women from around the country have it worse. I mean we all have read enough instances where athletes have had to sell their medals to earn a living. But then there are some athletes who have to give up on their dreams before it even starts. Take the recent example of Ritu, the boxing school nationals medalist, who is now working as a parking attendant.

Recently, Ritu, the boxing school nationals medalist, has been working as a parking attendant for the past year, in Chandigarh, India. The reason being that her father fell ill and she needed to support her family.

The boxing school nationals medalist, Ritu has been doing the job of a parking attendant to earn Rs. 350/day. She gave up boxing a year ago when she realized that her father was severely ill and she needed to provide for her family. 

Ritu, who is not only a boxing school nationals medalist but also has won many medals in wrestling at inter-school tournaments, said, “Since my father fell ill in 2017, I had to quit boxing. It has been tough but I have no other option.”

And that is the reality of most of the upcoming athletes in India. The financial conditions of these athletes – like Ritu, the boxing school nationals medalist – are pitiable and sorry. Just imagine not being able to conquer your dreams only because you don’t have the financial resources to achieve them. And then we wonder why we don’t win more medals at the Olympic games. The sports association in India really needs to make resources available for those who have the potential to make a career in sports. It is only then that the parents and society will encourage more children to take up sports.