Athletes as employees in Railways

New Delhi: Many athletes who have represented India in the international arena have found a new employer - the Indian Railway, because they lack financial support to sustain their lives. The reason behind this situation is that the government offered little help, and corporations were reluctant to sponsor those who competed in obscure sports, reports The New York Times.

At the railway, athletes often become ticket collectors because they can work day or night, affording them time to train. It also allows them to travel for free around the country. They receive light workloads, shorter hours and perks like coaching and training facilities. But athletic performance is closely monitored; if someone does not measure up, a part-time desk job can quickly become full time.

Shiva Keshavan, a three-time Olympian who will compete at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, was never able to pursue his sport full time. After the 2006 Turin Games, where he finished 25th, he ran out of money and did not compete for nearly two years. "I applied to public companies for this kind of honorary job, but winter sports are still far behind," Keshavan said. "Sometimes they say they don't even recognize winter sports."

"The railway, police and military are the big three groups that provide some sort of support system and security for an athlete," said Hakimuddin S. Habibulla, a Co-founder of GoSports, a sports management and consultancy company based in Bangalore. "If you are part of one of these public-sector companies, there is the opportunity of getting promotions and getting a basic bonus. But if you're not part of any of these institutions, it's much more difficult."

Previous Post's: Mahathma Gandhi saw first film at the age of 74

Home - About us - Register - Downloads - Download Toolbar - Contact us