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| Pratima Kumari |
Ranchi, Nov. 26: A jittery Jharkhand Olympic Association (JOA) has directed the state weightlifting body secretary to confirm the participation of Bokaro-born gold medal-winner and ace lifter Pratima Kumari in the National Games next month.
The state is in a catch-22 situation since the sportswoman is yet to confirm her participation in the national sporting event that begins on December 12 in Hyderabad.
Pratima, who brought laurels for the country, had deserted her home state during the National Games in Punjab last year, along with other athletes and sportspersons.
Though JOA has entered her participation in the national sports meet, it is uncertain whether Pratima would participate following her preoccupation with the national camp, which is underway in Delhi.
Pratima was recently given Rs 10 lakh by the Jharkhand government for her gold-winning performance.
Soon after the award, JOA threatened that it would force the government to withdraw her award in case she represents another state for the games.
JAO secretary general Syed Matloob said: “She cannot desert the state this time. If she does, the award will be taken away.”
Another sportswoman, Kanti Ba, who played for the region and erstwhile Bihar and was awarded by the Jharkhand government for being a member of the gold-winning hockey team, will play against the Jharkhand team at the National Games.
The hockey player is now playing for Western Railway after she failed to find a job in Jharkhand.
During last year’s National Games, Pratima had defected to Delhi shunning Jharkhand at the eleventh hour despite protests from JOA.
The state Olympic body had lodged a strong protest with Indian Olympic Association, after which new directives were issued to players and sportspersons that if they decided to play for some other team they should seek a no-objection from their parent body at least six months in advance.Since Pratima played for Delhi last time, JOA is not sure if she has procured a no-objection from that state.
“We have sent her entry from Jharkhand and she has to represent the state. We have acknowleged her fear by awarding her Rs 10 lakh. She cannot desert the state this time. If she does the award will be taken away,” said JOA secretary general Syed Matloob Hashmi.
