Shuttler Girish Sharma, who is ranked No 2 in India in both singles and doubles physically-challenged categories, was excited to learn that he had been selected to represent the country in the 2011 Para-Badminton World Championship in Guatemala City.
But the 24-year-old was shocked to learn that the Badminton Sports Association of India wanted him to arrange for his own funds for the tourney scheduled on November 22-26.
?I knew playing badminton would not bring in rich rewards, but I still took up the sport because I love it,? said Sharma, who lost his right leg in a railway accident when he was two.
Originally from Rajasthan, Sharma was born and brought up in Rajkot, Gujarat. He started playing the game when he was 14, and within a year he became the world No 2 in the disabled category. His parents and two brothers live in Rajkot.
In 2007, he moved to Thane to join the Saiyad Modi Badminton Academy of the Thane Municipal Corporation located at Dadoji Konddev Stadium. The academy bears his daily expenses.
?Initially the railways bore my expenses, but then stopped because the game does not glitter like cricket,? said Sharma, whose father is a railway employee.
After Sharma won the silver medal in the national championship in Bangalore, the association sent him a letter, dated August 20, saying they had selected him to represent the country in the world championship.
But the association also wrote that he would have to arrange Rs1,70,125 to meet his expenditure, including travel, lodging and daily expenses.
Sharma cannot afford that kind of money, but his friends, fellow players and coaches are pitching in as they want him to win this title.
?I participated in 2007 and 2009 world championships, but then I was a greenhorn. Now I can beat anyone,? said a confident Sharma.
Article source: http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_para-badminton-champion-asked-to-pay-from-pocket-to-play-for-country_1589297
Source: http://indianplayers.co.in/para-badminton-champion-asked-to-pay-from-pocket-to-play-for-country.html
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