'The struggle is real': Swimmer Sajan Prakash asks Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore for financial help

What’s The Story?

Sajan Prakash, the only Indian swimmer to have competed in the Rio Olympics, lashed out at the Sports Authority of India for red-tapism, asking Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore to intervene and provide financial help to the swimmers in the country.

Rathore, who was named sports minister earlier this year in a cabinet reshuffle, had announced the 'Khelo India' initiative soon after taking charge of his new office. In his tweet, Prakash has appreciated this effort of the minister and also said that he is preparing for the Asian Games, which is exactly nine months away.

@Ra_THORe sir, Im happy that you are doing a great effort towards sports in india. im a swimmer nd im working towards the asian games which is exactly in 9 months from now. Will there be any sort of financial assistance and help from the govt for the swimmers? #TheStruggleIsReal

— Sajan Prakash (@swim_sajan) November 12, 2017

The Context

The Sports Minister wants to provide the facilities to the athletes across the country. He feels athletes deserve the respect and convenience at all times. Rathore wants to bring in athletes to the centre of every matter, and for that, he wants to redesign the entire sporting model in the country.

The immediate effect of the Khelo India programme will be a School Games in the last two weeks of December 2017. He also wants every athlete to get the equal opportunity to shine for the country.

The Heart of the Matter

Sajan Prakash further said that although him and a number of other swimmers have been nominated for the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), they are yet to get any confirmation about funds from the government.

“Some of us swimmers had been nominated for the TOPS scheme, but we have not been confirmed as of yet," Sajan Prakash said to Sportskeeda.

"Due to a change in SAI, we do not know, as of now, whom to contact. I hope Mr Rathore takes some steps about this, if he wishes for the betterment of sports,” he said.

What’s next?

Asian Games is not far away and all the athletes are toiling very hard to succeed. In such a situation, if they get government help, then nothing like it. Rathore being an Olympic medallist himself, knows the condition well. If Prakash and other swimmers get such help then we could expect better results from th.

Author’s take

It takes a lot of courage to write to the Sports Minister, but Prakash did it because he needs the funds in order to prepare for the mega event. Rathore’s initiative has already helped a lot of athletes and hopefully he won’t disappoint the swimmers either.

Note: A previous version of this article was published with wrong facts. The same has been corrected in this version. We deeply regret the mistake and thank our readers for bringing this to our notice.