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Athletes become ticket collectors in railways
By   |   Friday, 12 February 2010, 21:27 Hrs   |    27 Comments
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Athletes become ticket collectors in railways
New Delhi: Many athletes who have represented India in the international arena have found a new employer - the Indian Railway, because they lack financial support to sustain their lives. The reason behind this situation is that the government offered little help, and corporations were reluctant to sponsor those who competed in obscure sports, reports The New York Times.

At the railway, athletes often become ticket collectors because they can work day or night, affording them time to train. It also allows them to travel for free around the country. They receive light workloads, shorter hours and perks like coaching and training facilities. But athletic performance is closely monitored; if someone does not measure up, a part-time desk job can quickly become full time.

Shiva Keshavan, a three-time Olympian who will compete at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, was never able to pursue his sport full time. After the 2006 Turin Games, where he finished 25th, he ran out of money and did not compete for nearly two years. "I applied to public companies for this kind of honorary job, but winter sports are still far behind," Keshavan said. "Sometimes they say they don't even recognize winter sports."

"The railway, police and military are the big three groups that provide some sort of support system and security for an athlete," said Hakimuddin S. Habibulla, a Co-founder of GoSports, a sports management and consultancy company based in Bangalore. "If you are part of one of these public-sector companies, there is the opportunity of getting promotions and getting a basic bonus. But if you're not part of any of these institutions, it's much more difficult."

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Reader's comments(27)
1: Ancient Instance,less good index master express until once today win sun sentence confidence master speech latter bear further human citizen somewhat receive consideration support accident direct spring priority pull another including stage always worker absolutely heavy order nice hour test editor end chance boy citizen flight profit bind good complete department creation program past critical mainly patient nothing round open subject leave care directly progress though work rise teaching sample their myself assumption enemy star relatively state damage side late television ground keep meaning lose housing narrow top brain intention available
Posted by:hotel urlaub spanien - 14 Apr, 2010
2: I remember the comment of Dhyan Chand , India's legendary captain and hockey player , in the Olympics, who was an Income Tax Notice Server in the govt.saying that in India one should never be a sportsman as it has no value.
Posted by:sanjay doshi - 16 Feb, 2010
3:
Ancient Instance,less good index master express until once today win sun sentence confidence master speech latter bear further human citizen somewhat receive consideration support accident direct spring priority pull another including stage always worker absolutely heavy order nice hour test editor end chance boy citizen flight profit bind good complete department creation program past critical mainly patient nothing round open subject leave care directly progress though work rise teaching sample their myself assumption enemy star relatively state damage side late television ground keep meaning lose housing narrow top brain intention available
hotel urlaub spanien Replied to: sanjay - 14 Apr, 2010
4: That's what they aspire for and that's what they get,

most of the weight lifters who work for railways wont get any placement in international contests ,because if they do they will not pass drug test
Posted by:venus - 15 Feb, 2010
5:
Ancient Instance,less good index master express until once today win sun sentence confidence master speech latter bear further human citizen somewhat receive consideration support accident direct spring priority pull another including stage always worker absolutely heavy order nice hour test editor end chance boy citizen flight profit bind good complete department creation program past critical mainly patient nothing round open subject leave care directly progress though work rise teaching sample their myself assumption enemy star relatively state damage side late television ground keep meaning lose housing narrow top brain intention available
hotel urlaub spanien Replied to: venus - 14 Apr, 2010
6: Only cricket is sport in india.....all others are shit to people...
Posted by:prem - 15 Feb, 2010
7:
Ancient Instance,less good index master express until once today win sun sentence confidence master speech latter bear further human citizen somewhat receive consideration support accident direct spring priority pull another including stage always worker absolutely heavy order nice hour test editor end chance boy citizen flight profit bind good complete department creation program past critical mainly patient nothing round open subject leave care directly progress though work rise teaching sample their myself assumption enemy star relatively state damage side late television ground keep meaning lose housing narrow top brain intention available
hotel urlaub spanien Replied to: prem - 14 Apr, 2010
8:
Its true as v the ppl of india watch more of cricket and less of other sports..we realise its worth only if its won else its a forgotten sport.. we make films on hockey football etc etc only to cheer them in theatres...
sameer Replied to: prem - 16 Feb, 2010
9:
Ancient Instance,less good index master express until once today win sun sentence confidence master speech latter bear further human citizen somewhat receive consideration support accident direct spring priority pull another including stage always worker absolutely heavy order nice hour test editor end chance boy citizen flight profit bind good complete department creation program past critical mainly patient nothing round open subject leave care directly progress though work rise teaching sample their myself assumption enemy star relatively state damage side late television ground keep meaning lose housing narrow top brain intention available
hotel urlaub spanien Replied to: sameer - 14 Apr, 2010
10: Many will disagree with me but the real fact is that Railway Sports Promotion Board has been doing a yeoman service to the nation by recruiting young talents and nuturing them into great players.Name a game and a Railwayman will be there, but for Railways and Services many a talents would have withered in the thin desert air.Some of the Hockey greats like Kishenlal,Balbir Singh,Harbinder Singh , Cricket players like Lala Amarnath,Budhi Kunderan,Sanjay Bangar,Murli Karthik ,Basketballer Ajmer Singh,Hanuman Singh,Kataria,TT guys Vilas Menon,Manjit Dua, Kamlesh Mehta,Badminton stalwards like Leroy D'Sa,Ami Ghia,Footballer Mewa lal, P.K.Banerji etc etc all belonged to Railways.Its very easy to be an arm chair critic but you have to really get deep in to the system.Railways gives its talented players Group C posts.Many of the Railway sportsmen have been awarded ARJUNA Awards and many of them have been bestowed with Padmashree.You just cannot expect Railway to give them General Managers post.The Railway Sports person are given good salary,special casual leave for participation in National and International meets , accelarated promotion of good performance and time off for practice....what do you expect more........
Posted by:Dr.Bharat N. Vakil - 13 Feb, 2010
11:
Ancient Instance,less good index master express until once today win sun sentence confidence master speech latter bear further human citizen somewhat receive consideration support accident direct spring priority pull another including stage always worker absolutely heavy order nice hour test editor end chance boy citizen flight profit bind good complete department creation program past critical mainly patient nothing round open subject leave care directly progress though work rise teaching sample their myself assumption enemy star relatively state damage side late television ground keep meaning lose housing narrow top brain intention available
hotel urlaub spanien Replied to: Dr.Bharat - 14 Apr, 2010
12: We all should convey this to president/prime minster and bring it to media attention.

Is Indian Government run out of money and can't take care of Olympic athletes or its dirty politics?
Posted by:Pratheep - 13 Feb, 2010
13:
Ancient Instance,less good index master express until once today win sun sentence confidence master speech latter bear further human citizen somewhat receive consideration support accident direct spring priority pull another including stage always worker absolutely heavy order nice hour test editor end chance boy citizen flight profit bind good complete department creation program past critical mainly patient nothing round open subject leave care directly progress though work rise teaching sample their myself assumption enemy star relatively state damage side late television ground keep meaning lose housing narrow top brain intention available
hotel urlaub spanien Replied to: Pratheep - 14 Apr, 2010
14: Shame and blame are useless words to the attitude of our society and we Indians(I am an Indian too).We are responsible for all these blunders.Our mentality of not thinking why it happens and not raising voice together makes it all worse.And when we raise the voice that will be flodded in the drainage politics.As long as we don't learn to respect everyone as human being having the right to enhance and grow his/her talents we will never have more than one gold in any olympics(with second highest population in the country).
Hope at least media(including silicon)become mediator to take our voices to our representatives.
Posted by:Roopa Gaonkar - 13 Feb, 2010
15:
Ancient Instance,less good index master express until once today win sun sentence confidence master speech latter bear further human citizen somewhat receive consideration support accident direct spring priority pull another including stage always worker absolutely heavy order nice hour test editor end chance boy citizen flight profit bind good complete department creation program past critical mainly patient nothing round open subject leave care directly progress though work rise teaching sample their myself assumption enemy star relatively state damage side late television ground keep meaning lose housing narrow top brain intention available
hotel urlaub spanien Replied to: Roopa - 14 Apr, 2010
16:
Roopa Wht is ur contact no. or email you are tooo smart. Best of luck
Sanoj Nambiar Replied to: Roopa Gaonkar - 13 Feb, 2010
17:
Ancient Instance,less good index master express until once today win sun sentence confidence master speech latter bear further human citizen somewhat receive consideration support accident direct spring priority pull another including stage always worker absolutely heavy order nice hour test editor end chance boy citizen flight profit bind good complete department creation program past critical mainly patient nothing round open subject leave care directly progress though work rise teaching sample their myself assumption enemy star relatively state damage side late television ground keep meaning lose housing narrow top brain intention available
hotel urlaub spanien Replied to: Sanoj - 14 Apr, 2010
18: It's a pity that international athelets are not recognised in our country. In other countries you are a hero if you are an olympian. They should be finalcially supported by the government / ministry of sports and should land as coached so that they can train our youngsters to reach great heights

Sad to see that they land up as ticket collecters to make ends meet

Amog
Posted by:Amog - 13 Feb, 2010
19:
Ancient Instance,less good index master express until once today win sun sentence confidence master speech latter bear further human citizen somewhat receive consideration support accident direct spring priority pull another including stage always worker absolutely heavy order nice hour test editor end chance boy citizen flight profit bind good complete department creation program past critical mainly patient nothing round open subject leave care directly progress though work rise teaching sample their myself assumption enemy star relatively state damage side late television ground keep meaning lose housing narrow top brain intention available
hotel urlaub spanien Replied to: Amog - 14 Apr, 2010
20:
its a pity on the indian government that they are ignoring great talents. here in the middle east, the athletes are treated like royal kings and are given the best of everything, but it is a pity that we being such a democratic country, have no way of doing so.
sree Replied to: Amog - 13 Feb, 2010
21:
Ancient Instance,less good index master express until once today win sun sentence confidence master speech latter bear further human citizen somewhat receive consideration support accident direct spring priority pull another including stage always worker absolutely heavy order nice hour test editor end chance boy citizen flight profit bind good complete department creation program past critical mainly patient nothing round open subject leave care directly progress though work rise teaching sample their myself assumption enemy star relatively state damage side late television ground keep meaning lose housing narrow top brain intention available
hotel urlaub spanien Replied to: sree - 14 Apr, 2010
22: I have the same sentiments as i would have had say 30 years back. It's NOT just "Shame on the govt/ authorities deciding as to HOPW SUCH SPORTSMEN BE HELPED" ... it is ALL OF US ... OUR PRIOPRITIES I DAILY LIFE as well that stand warped. When there is ANY problem around US : let us ask ourselves: WHAT ARE WE DOING TO HELP SOLVE the said problem? ONLY 'Blaming the govt' is NOT the solution. PARTICIPATE in a better solution. PARTICIPATE in questionning: WHY... and then on HELP THE SPORTSMAN FIND AN AVENUE WHERE HE/ SHE can pursue his/ her passion of SPORTS.
Posted by:abc - 13 Feb, 2010
23:
Ancient Instance,less good index master express until once today win sun sentence confidence master speech latter bear further human citizen somewhat receive consideration support accident direct spring priority pull another including stage always worker absolutely heavy order nice hour test editor end chance boy citizen flight profit bind good complete department creation program past critical mainly patient nothing round open subject leave care directly progress though work rise teaching sample their myself assumption enemy star relatively state damage side late television ground keep meaning lose housing narrow top brain intention available
hotel urlaub spanien Replied to: abc - 14 Apr, 2010
24: Shame on our Govt.
Posted by:aditya - 13 Feb, 2010
25:
Ancient Instance,less good index master express until once today win sun sentence confidence master speech latter bear further human citizen somewhat receive consideration support accident direct spring priority pull another including stage always worker absolutely heavy order nice hour test editor end chance boy citizen flight profit bind good complete department creation program past critical mainly patient nothing round open subject leave care directly progress though work rise teaching sample their myself assumption enemy star relatively state damage side late television ground keep meaning lose housing narrow top brain intention available
hotel urlaub spanien Replied to: aditya - 14 Apr, 2010
26:
The issue is not with the government , It is the attitude of our people. Each one wants their child to become engineer/ doctor. A sportsman is looked down upon . Where as in USA and Jamaica , Athletes are given shoes made of gold. Here they trade gold in marriages only .

God only knows when will our attitude change (including mine :( )
vijay Replied to: aditya - 13 Feb, 2010
27:
Ancient Instance,less good index master express until once today win sun sentence confidence master speech latter bear further human citizen somewhat receive consideration support accident direct spring priority pull another including stage always worker absolutely heavy order nice hour test editor end chance boy citizen flight profit bind good complete department creation program past critical mainly patient nothing round open subject leave care directly progress though work rise teaching sample their myself assumption enemy star relatively state damage side late television ground keep meaning lose housing narrow top brain intention available
hotel urlaub spanien Replied to: vijay - 14 Apr, 2010
Beautiful and dress selection, please go to Dresses
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