Guwahati, May 11: Supriya Gogoi had skipped her college examinations against the wishes of her mother for the sake of national selection trials for kho kho in Mumbai last year but had returned home a sporting star three months later.
The 20-year-old student of Tengakhat College under Dibrugarh University is now in another predicament - whether to continue her studies or help her mother, Amiya, earn for the family of six.
The first-ever international gold medallist in kho kho from Assam, Supriya, had hoped everything would fall in place at her Chungigaon home in Tengakhat when chief minister Tarun Gogoi announced Rs 10 lakh for every gold medallist from the state in the 12th South Asian Games held here and in Shillong in February.
Her dreams, however, remained unfulfilled because of the delay in the payment of the incentives, courtesy the model code of conduct for the Assembly elections. It is now a matter of survival for the family where her mother is the only bread earner.
When contacted, director of sports Anjan Sarma said the incentives would be placed for approval in the next budget session of the Assembly. "The model code of conduct came as an impediment," he added.
Supriya can now hope to overcome her crisis only if the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), which often helps needy students pursue studies, bails her out of the situation. She thanked Assam Kho Kho Association president Rajib Prakash Baruah for taking the initiative to request the state's apex students' body to look into the matter.
"Our president helped me talk to senior AASU leader Sammujjal Bhattacharjya who assured me of financial help from the union to complete my studies," Supriya said. The AASU had earlier felicitated her for the SAG achievement.
Altogether five athletes from Assam had bagged gold medals in the 12th SAG.
The South Asian Games is the highest level of international event for kho kho, which is going to be introduced as a demo game in the next Asian Games.
Baruah, an Assam civil services officer and a pioneer of kho kho in eastern India, has been personally supporting Supriya financially to help her pursue the sport keeping in view her immense talent and dedication.
"If she completes her degree course, I am hopeful that her achievement at the international level will come handy to her in securing a good job and in pursuing a career in sports for bringing more laurels to the nation," Baruah said.
Supriya's father Rudreswar Gogoi is unwell and her two younger sisters appeared for the HSLC examination this year. Her brother is still in school.
Supriya, who was here recently to receive her merit certificate from the Assam Kho Kho Association (AKKA), is desperately looking for a job. "I cannot continue my studies because of our financial condition. But I will definitely continue playing kho kho," she said.
"Last time I got admission into a college by borrowing the fees from well-wishers. Had the government released the incentive, I could have completed my studies," she added.
Her mother, who is a cook at an Anganwadi centre, however, insisted that her daughter should continue her studies. "I have been supporting my family, my children's studies as well as Supriya's sporting career. I am hopeful I will manage to support her studies for two more years," Amiya said.
"I have always opposed her playing. I was quite upset with her when she skipped her college exams for the Indian team selections in Mumbai last year. However, her achievement in the international arena is a dream come true. Now I am proud of her," Amiya added.
