Seema Punia, gold medal winner in discuss throw at the recently concluded Incheon Asian Games, on Monday said that lack of funds was affecting her preparation for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
“I have not reaped any benefits as far as a job is concerned even in my own state (Haryana). Since 2010, I’m a sub inspector and after that I have won two Commonwealth Games but haven’t been promoted. Even after winning the medal in Incheon, the chief minister (Bhupinder Singh Hooda) told me that you retract your words in the media against us and then we’ll see," Punia said on the sidelines of a facilitation ceremony in the Capital.
Punia, who has had a torrid time since 2000 due to doping allegations, feels the negative attention has cost her the Arjuna Award. She had tested positive for a banned substance Stanozolol prior to the 2006 Asian Games but despite being cleared, she opted not to participate. “In 2006, the person who took my dope test on Saturday resigned from his job on Monday so there is no way of ascertaining the truth. Only lalit Bhanot (former IOA secretary) was the one who supported me at that time. I think there is something mischievous going on — it has been eight years since then and I have given numerous dope tests,” she said.
She further added that the financial support is not enough for an athlete to improve at a big stage such as the Olympics.
“I don’t have any sponsors and there are little or none in athletics anway, but whatever I get as prize money goes into my work and I continue to train and work as I always have.”
The 31-year-old discus thrower from Panipat has found no change in the situation even after bringing country glory and what’s affecting her the most is the bureaucracy. “Two officials from the government recently visited my ailing mother and asked for a certificate to verify if Seema Punia is even from Haryana state. All that my mother could provide was a 10th class certificate to prove that. And such humiliation and treatment made me cry on the podium.”