SAG medal winner eagerly waits for government cash award

Sometimes I feel study is luxury for me: Supriya

By our sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, May 2: She has a dream to represent India in the Asian Games. But Supriya Gogoi, the new star of Assam sports, is now much anxious about her career and family. The athlete is eagerly waiting to see the day when the State Government, as per the earlier announcement, will hand over the cash award to those Assam athletes who won medal in South Asian Games held in Guwahati and Shillong in February.

Supriya, a resident of small town Tengakhat of Dibrugarh district, was the part of the Indian kho kho squad which won gold medal in the mega event. Needless to say that the Assam Government has announced Rs 10 lakh cash award to each gold medal winner of the Games.

Hails from an economically weaker family, Supriya has to fight hard to collect the daily expense of her study as well as practice. She was even forced to borrow money to take admission in the college. Although Assam Kho Kho Association has provided some assistance time to time but it was not enough.

Talking to The Sentinel during a brief visit to the City Supriya said, “I am the elder amongst the three siblings. My mother, who is  the only earner of our family doesn’t have fixed income. Although she is trying her best to keep us smiling but that’s not enough. Some time even education looks luxury for me when I see that my younger sister and brother didn’t get two times meal properly.”

At present Supriya is studying Bachelor of Arts degree but in several times she planned to quit study to concentrate her family’s economic situation and to relief the burden from her mother’s shoulder.

“My mother is a very brave lady and she told me that she will take all the pain to make me graduate. At the same time I am thankful to Raijb sir, (Rajib Prakash Baruah, the president of the Assam Kho kho Association), who provided me different types of helps time to time,” said the athlete. It may be mentioned here that Assam Kho Kho Association already sought help from All Assam Students' Union (AASU) on Supriya’s education.

The athlete has to wait for a while for the cash incentive until new governments take the charge in the State.

When the point is raised Supriya said,“ I know it. But still I am eagerly waiting for the day as this incentive can ensure two times meal of my family members along with the education of me and my siblings.”  

The medal winning athlete was accompanying her mother Amiya Gogoi during her visit to Guwahati. Although Amiya was little bit angry on her daughter when she joined South Asian Games camp leaving classes in the college. But now she had no complain.

“Supriya has a keen interest in sports from the very early days and there was hardly any day when my daughter missed a practice session. She made us proud and only because of her we have now separate identity in our town”, said Amiya.

When asked about her future plan Supriya replied,“ I came to know that kho kho will be included in the next Asiad as a demonstration game. I will try hard to get a place in the tiol team.” 

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