Yester year’s athlete now a maid in Mumbai
Rourkela: The claims of both Union and State Government regarding identifying the budding sports talents, imparting proper coaching to establish them as reputed sports icons have gone flat for a yester year’s athlete Bibiana Kulu(20) of Saleghaghar lojhapara of Kurumkel Panchayat of Subdega block of Sundargarh district who has been now for her bread and butter, working as a maid in a house in Mumbai. Source said while studying in Class-VII Bibiana was selected for a seat in Odisha Sports Hostel. As she waskeeping potential in running events she concentrated to build of her career in athletics. After one year of coaching in Sundargarh SAI hostel she could establish her talent. In a very short span she could secure first positions in many block level, district level and state level athletic meets in 100 mtrs and 200 mtrs events. In 2009 in 54th national level inter school athletic meet at Kochi she brought laurels for Odisha securing 1st in 100mtrs and 2nd position in 200mtrs race. Similarly, she repeated the same position in these two events in 55th meet in 2010 at Amritsar, Punjab. Besides in these two years she has also achieved many awards in various national and state level meets. Even participating in school level world cup meet in 2009 at Astonia of Russia she secured 5th position in 200 mtrs race event. But after 2010 she could not get any further chance to participate in any events as she failed the HSC examination and SAI authority removed her from hostel. Though in next year she passed the HSC examination but SAI authority could not help her. Adding to her misery she had already lost her father Deonish Kulu while studying in Class-VIII. As in one side her family economic condition was worsened and otherside no support from Govt. she was forced to search for income to maintain herself and family. So, while she could not get any income scope here she had to go to Mumbai to work as a maid putting full stop in her dream. Still many sports personalities and lovers say time is there and govt. should take steps to re-put Bibina in sports track by giving her fellowship and other supports.
sportsmen given Sportslogon award
Bhubaneswar: Ace sprinter Amiya Kumar Mallick, Chess Grand Master Debasis Das, chess queen Saina Salonika, women cricket coach Arun Kumar Naik and weightlifter Bhaskar Moharana received young emerging player of the year, sports person of the year, Kumudini Krida Prativa award, best coach and player of the Bygone Era awards respectively in the 3rd Sportslogon Sports Award function at Jayadev Bhawan here on Monday. “ While all the award winners got the trophy along with cash prize of Rs25,000 each, Saina received the trophy along with cash prize of Rs10,000. A five-member jury comprising Odisha Cricket Association secretary Asirbad Behera, OTV sports editor Durgasish, trustee Nanda Kishor Patnaik, cartoonist Sudhansu Sekher Deo and Tanmay Das unanimously finalised the awardees list. Amiya had bagged gold medal in the 200 meter race in the national athletic meet in 2013. Amiya got young emerging player of the year award. Odisha’s first grand master Debasis bagged sport person of the year award. Similarly, women cricket coach Arun who created many national and international repute women cricketers like Madhuri Meheta and Rosanara Parwin, Arun grabbed the best coach award and 1938 born Bhaskar was bagged bronze medal in the national junior weightlifting in the year 1958, got the player of the bygone era award.
Another junior girl chess star of the State Saina got Kumudini Krida Prativa award. She won the U-10 world chess championship title, received the Kumudi Krida Prativa Award. Sports and Youth Services secretary Saswat Mishra, Kumudini Mishara, Good Samaritan Trust secretary Tanmay Das, trusty Nanda Kishor Patnaik and advisor Sudhanshu Shekhar Deo were present.