Pinki Pramanik

Doha: After Soma Biswas, it is the turn of Pinki Paramanik to give a serious thought to quitting Bengal.

Pinki, who won the gold in the 4x400m relay, said on Friday that she too is seriously thinking about representing some other state in the national championships.

Echoing Soma’s sentiments, Pinki said: “We are not aptly rewarded back in Bengal for our achievements. I have heard that Soma didi (Biswas) is talking about going over to Assam.

It is not a bad decision. Back in Bengal we don’t receive much financial support for our achievements.”

Asked whether she will take any offers from Assam, Pinki said it depends on the offer. “If it is good, then what is the harm in winning medals for them' But, I won’t do anything without talking to the officials back in Calcutta.”

The Bengal athlete, who narrowly missed a medal in the 400m and then created a controversy, saying the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) acted partially by not sending her entry for the 800m, spoke in a different tone on Friday.

“For the world championships next year, I will concentrate on the 400m event,” she said. “The AFI officials told us that the camp for the world meet will begin in January in Delhi.”

Asked why she has been forfeiting her favourite event, Pinki said she would love to take part in 800m as well, but in the world championships, she would be eligible for participating in only one event other than the relay.

Despite top show in the relay, Pinki is yet to recover from the shock of getting beaten in the 400m.

“I was sure of a medal, but it slipped away from my hands. I was quite upset, but Soma didi told me not to feel bad. ‘Don’t forget, you have an Asian Games gold under your belt,’ she told me before leaving for Calcutta.