BHOPAL: If you want to play for India you have to arrange Rs 2.5 lakh — this is what was told to five players of Madhya Pradesh selected for World Schools Games by the School Games Federation of India (SGFI).
The players have written a letter to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to help them as they are not financially strong to arrange such an amount.
The selected players are Bushra Khan (athletics, Sehore), Sandeep Kumar (athletics, Bhopal), Aditya Raghuvanshi (athletics, Bhopal), Deepesh Lashkari (Gymnastic, Ujjain) and Priyansh Prjapat (wrestling, Bhopal).
In the letter written to CM Chouhan players said that they have been selected for World Schools Games which is scheduled to be organised from May 14 in France. “We were selected on the basis of our performances in the nationals organised at Bhubaneshwar. However, when it comes to participating in the championship, SGFI told us that they can’t arrange money,” said players in the letter,” said players in the letter. Players have requested CM Chouhan to help them.
A player Deepesh Lashkari said, “I have been into gymnastics for the past 8 years. This year I have got the opportunity to participate in the world school games. As my family background is not financially strong my father had to take loans from individuals,” said Lashkari.
His father runs a driving school in Ujjain. “Representing India in the world school games was my son’s dream. Being a middle-class family man arranging Rs 2.5 lakh was a cumbersome task. I have taken loans from several people to fulfill my son’s dream,” said Dilip Lashkari.
Other players have also arranged money from their pocket.
SGFI’s secretary-general Alok Khare said that the federation has no funds. “As there are two factions in the SGFI there is a serious problem of funds. We are helpless. If players want to participate, they have to arrange money,” said Khare blatantly.
Asked about who will provide funds for staff to accompany players, Khare immediately replied, “We will try to sponsor them.” However, he later changed his stance as he said, “SGFI will not spend money on officials also. They will have to arrange it.”
Khare is a senior officer in the school education department, Madhya Pradesh.
