Good news: Government to fund International school games participants

This is more than a good piece of news for budding athletes who weren’t able to progress for want of financial backing.

The Union government on Tuesday sanctioned grants to athletes selected to represent the country at the International School Games Federation Championship to be held in Cyprus from March 28. The rising stars will represent India in tennis, football, basketball and swimming.

DNA had reported on March 8 (story titled ‘But for money, she would be in Indian team’) that talented cager Sruthi Menon, a Std XI student of BMCC College, Pune, could miss the flight to Cyprus as she was unable to pay Rs 2 lakh as deposit to the School Games Federation of India.

Most of the parents of these athletes are from modest backgrounds.

While the state governments of these athletes swung into action and sanctioned the money, the Centre too agreed to bear the expenses. “We do agree that it was a communication lapse which forced parents to arrange money. Now, everything is settled and even the central government has sanctioned the tour money,” said Maharashtra youth and sports affairs deputy director Narendra Sopal.

@joepune