On the directive of Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Ajay Maken, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Tuesday handed over a demand draft for Rs. 5 lakh to archer Nisha Rani Dutta, who was forced to sell her silver bow owing to financial constraints.
The 21-year-old archer got the silver bow as a gift from her coach. She won a silver medal at the 2008 South Asian championship in Jharkhand, bronze at the 2006 Bangkok Grand Prix and also the Best Player award in the 2007 Asian Grand Prix in Taiwan.
‘It will help me'
Ms. Dutta told The Hindu:
“My father is a farmer and we don't have much land. The Central government is really helping by supporting me to overcome the financial crisis. Definitely, it will help me continue my practice. I hail from Pathmada village in Jamshedpur district of Jharkhand and left archery two years back because of poverty.
“I have requested the Central government to provide me financial support so that I can take coaching in archery from NIS Kolkata which will help me to practice further and fulfil my dreams, with this amount I am hopeful to start my game again.
“I started archery when I was 13 years old. I had requested the Jharkhand government several times to provide financial aid to us, but there was no response. I am really thankful to newspapers for highlighting my plight.”
