Ravi Shankar Sharma

Separated by two years, two visually challenged brothers from Bihar have been forced to suffer the same predicament — courtesy the state government’s apparent apathy towards supporting its talented sportspersons.

Seventeen-year-old Ravi Shankar Sharma from Barharia, Siwan, who has won a bronze in the 1500m race in the 19th Indian Blind Sports Association national meet that concluded here on Tuesday, had no choice but to represent Delhi as Bihar does not send sportspersons for the event.

Two years ago, Ravi’s brother, Raj Kumar, had experienced something similar. He, too, had participated in the event from the Delhi squad and had won three medals — two gold in the javelin and shot put events and a bronze in discus throw.

“Who would not want to don the state colours they belong to? But the Bihar government is just not concerned,” said Ravi who took part in three race categories even though he is still convalescing from typhoid. “My father, a blacksmith in our village, and I knocked on many doors, met local MLA and later Siwan MP Om Prakash Yadav also pleading with them to help us out in reaching state ministers for some support. Nobody listened,” Ravi said.

Finally, he had to turn to his brother Raj, now a postgraduate student in Delhi University, who put him through to a Delhi NGO, National Blind Youth Association.

“It was only through this organisation that I managed to join the Delhi squad and participated in the event in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium,” said Ravi, who will appear for the Class XII boards in 2015.

Over 60 teams of visually challenged sportspersons from 14 states had participated in the four-day event where athletes competed in races, long jumps, shot put, javelin, discus throws and chess. The best performers from this meet will go to the 5th World Championships and Games for the Blind to be held in Seoul, Korea, in May next year.

Raj, who had to leave behind his passion for athletics due to a severe stomach problem, recalled how he also had to run from the pillar to post to persuade the state sports department to sponsor him but had failed. “Officials clearly told me there is no policy in place and the state does not send out any team,” said Raj. “Luckily for me after I came into contact with the NBYA. My higher education, too, was taken care of and I am now studying a subject of my choice in a good university.”

However, state art, culture and youth minister Vinay Bihari said the brothers should have got in touch with him. “We recently organised the Khel Samman ceremony in which 312 players were awarded. Of them, 162 were physically disabled and 40 among them were blind. In the Khel Samman ceremony, we felicitate those who won medals in the commissionerate, state and national-level events only,” he said.

“But more than the prize money, I want my brother to get proper training and an opportunity to participate in more sports events,” Raj said.

An NBAY executive said the association would continue to support talented blind youth in whatever way they could. “But what happened with the two brothers is sad,” the NGO functionary added. “This explains why states like Bihar have such poor sports scenario.”

Minister Bihari said the scenario would change fast. “We have recently introduced the sports bill. I request the boys to contact us and all help will be provided,” he added.