The applause she receives goes unheeded if not unnoticed, as Parul Gupta hits the ball hard across the net much to the discomfort of her rival player. She doesn’t even hear the words of appreciation that are uttered as she bags the little game of talent. Only a smile of contentment plays on her lips as she walks off with the trophy. Her success story is not unheard off, only she cannot pick up the words. For, Parul is hearing-impaired.
Success, it seems, comes naturally to her, though she has hardly been receiving official recognition for her achievements. Only recently, she won a bronze in the eighth Asia Pacific Deaf Games held in Taiwan.
But, her father, Avinash Gupta, rues that so far, Parul has not received any financial or any other assistance from the Government for he furtherance of her talent. He is demanding a “Government job” for his daughter for her “bright future and career”.
“Neither the Government of India nor the State Government had given their assistance of any kind for the upholding or upgrowing of Parul Gupta in her game. Even a single penny, in the name of financial assistance, has not been given to her
and the reason behind this seems for her deafness (special child),” said Avinash.
He claimed that Parul’s merits had been “totally ignored”, and thus the said act and conduct on the part of the Indian Government is not fine. “Moreover, the tennis game is one of the most expensive games,” he said.
“We are demanding justice from the Centre or the State Governments and it is a humble request to the Government that a suitable Government job due to best player in lawn tennis be given to Parul for her bright future and career,” said Avinash.
19-year-old Parul has been playing International tennis since 2013 and is still struggling to get financial aid from the Government.
Though Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia gave her a cheque for Rs two lakh in 2014, Avinash said that it was not enough for the three coaches they have hired to train her and he is bearing the expenses from his own pocket.
Parul also cannot travel alone to any championship like other children due to her disability.
Born hearing-impaired, Parul started playing tennis at the age of four at the Yadavindra Public School, where her mother Madhu Gupta is a teacher. The youngster would initially play in the general category and claimed silver medal in U-17 National School Games held in Delhi in 2011.