As the entire nation is basking in the glory of India’s best-ever medal haul at Olympics, including a gold medal in athletics at Tokyo Games 2020, a piece of rather disappointing news surfaced. Pinky Karmakar, who was once an Olympic torchbearer, is currently working as a daily wage labourer in Assam.
On one hand, Indian athletes received a grand welcome with cash rewards, cars, jobs etc upon their arrival from Tokyo, Pinky Karmakar opened up about struggles she has been facing as her “dreams have been shattered”.
Pinky Karmakar represented India as a torchbearer in the 2012 London Olympics, where India bagged a total of six medals — Sushil Kumar (Silver), Saina Nehwal (Bronze), Mary Kom (Bronze), Vijay Kumar (Silver), Gagan Narang (Bronze), Yogeshwar Dutt (Bronze).
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During an interaction with ANI, Pinky Karmakar said, “I represented India as a torchbearer in the 2012 London Olympics. I work as a daily wager at a tea garden in Dibrugarh.”
“I didn’t get enough facilities from the government. I don’t understand why. I was selected by UNICEF. My dreams have been shattered,” she added.
She further added, “My family is facing several financial constraints due to which I cannot afford several sports equipment. If I would have got enough facilities, I would also have had represented India in Olympics.”
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Pinky is currently working as a daily wage labourer at Borborooah tea garden. She is helping her family by supporting them financially as a daily wage labourer at a tea garden in her district.
“When I was 17-year-old and was studying in Class 10, I used to run a program in my school and teach about women there. It got sponsored by UNICEF,” she said.
Indian contingent returned from the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics, where India marked its best-ever finish with seven medals, including a gold by javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra.
With an 87.58 metres throw, Neeraj scripted history after winning a gold medal. It was India’s first athletics gold medal at the Olympics Games. He became only the second individual Olympic gold medalist for India after Abhinav Bindra won shooting gold in 2008.
Neeraj Chopra’s interview:
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For India, the medal winners are Neeraj Chopra (Gold), Ravi Kumar (Silver), Mirabai Chanu (Silver), Bajrang Punia (Bronze), PV Sindhu (Bronze), Lovlina Borgohain (Bronze) and the men’s hockey team (Bronze).
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