Haryana govt announces financial assistance to distressed boxer Rishu Mittal

New Delhi: After a Zee Media campaign brought to light the plight of boxer Rishu Mittal, Haryana government on Wednesday announced Rs 1 Lakh worth of financial assistance to her.

This was confirmed by Anil Vij, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister of the state, in Ambala.

An offer has also been given to her for enrollment in National Sports Academy so that she could get better facilities to become a national player.

Acting swiftly and taking cognizance of the matter, the minister directed to provide assistance to the player.

At present, the player is getting training in academy and a stipend of Rs 2000 was being given to her, an official release said here.

The minister said if she wants the Sports Department would get her enrolled in National Sports Academy, Rohtak where all facilities were provided free of cost.

In this academy, Rishu would get golden chance of becoming a national player, he added.

One Pankaj Tyagi from Canada also volunteered to help Mittal after he watched her story on Zee News.

On Tuesday it was revealed that the gold medal boxer was forced to work as a maid in order to pay her school fees.

Despite Indian sport slowly improving with better infrastructure and greater funding, the plight of Mittal is truly shocking.

Mittal won a gold medal at state level championship in 46 kg category last year and even represented her state at the national games in Gwalior in December.

She currently works as a domestic help in homes in the morning and then goes to school.

Despite that, Mittal also gives time for her boxing practice at the stadium in evening.

She is in 10th grade and lives with her brother who works in a shop.

Her coach Rajinder Singh said that Rishu is a promising talent, but needs support to flourish and prove her mettle on t he big stage.

"The girl and her brother hail from a poor family. Rishu washes utensils, cleans the floor, cooks and does other jobs of a domestic help to raise some money," he said.

He said that if Rishu gets some support from the government and from others she can have better diet and one day make the country proud like MC Mary Kom.

Does Rishu Mittal's case highlight the ordeal of India's aspiring athletes? in Sports on LockerDome