Today that javelin holder, Gujarati athlete from Vadodara, Razia sheikh, leading an ambiguous life, fighting an existential battle to meet her daily needs.
“When I heard that Chopra won a gold in javelin throw – a sport that is very close to my heart, I was in tears,” said Shaikh, 62, India’s first woman to cross the 50m hurdles. In javelin throw at the 1987 South Asian Federation Games. His performance in the national javelin throw tournament was also astonishing.
Shaikh, who is now alive on a railway pension, told TOI, that it is heartening to see all the accolades and cash awards he (Chopra) is getting and I hope it encourages many more youngsters to take up athletics professionally. will inspire. “Haryana government is giving them full support too. It is sad that our state government does not recognize its sports heroes much.
Sheikh said that he was given Sardar Patel Awarded, but not much support. Ideally, the government should not only look after its players, but also involve veterans to prepare the next generation of athletes, said Sheikh, who has had hopes of becoming a sportsperson since childhood despite his humble origins. nurtured.
“In 1979, I participated in my first national javelin throw tournament and won a silver medal. I didn’t look back then,” said the veteran athlete, who won 25 gold medals and 12 silver medals in the national tournament.
Sheikh started playing cricket YSC Club At the age of 15 and used to be a dreaded fast bowler on the field. But after he was retained as an additional player in the Gujarat team in 1978, Shaikh started exploring athletics and found a place in track athletics.
In 1982, Sheikh played his first international tournament at the Asian Games in Delhi. “I won my first gold at the 1987 South Asian Games in Kolkata and became the first Indian woman to cross the 50m hurdle,” recalled the feudalist. Sheikh broke a 19-year-old national record for the Indian women’s javelin thrower at the Playmakers Athletics Meet in Delhi in 1986.
She won nine medals including two golds in international games. “I was offered a job by the Railways, but I left the job in 2003 due to work politics. I had to make ends meet so I started doing part time jobs in schools but life was tough for many years before my pension amount increased,” she said.
“It is unfortunate that medal winners are not getting their due in our country. I am hopeful that the performance of our athletes in the Tokyo Olympics will bring about a positive change in the attitude of people towards sportspersons.”
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