‘Where will motivation come from?’ Silver medallist Nishad Kumar’s sister rues lack of government support

Nishad Kumar spent years chasing glory with scant resources, all while enduring a mix of snide comments and ridicule from his seniors at school. His relentless quest for recognition was truly inspiring!

Then, three years ago, he snagged a silver medal in the men's T46 high jump at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, his very first. Overnight, he went from being the subject of local gossip to the ultimate poster boy of para-athletics.

At just 21, Kumar, the pride of Himachal Pradesh's Baduan - a quaint little village in Una district - was suddenly thrust into the upper echelons of society. Having been honoured with the Arjuna award, Kumar found himself rubbing elbows with politicians, industrialists, and corporate titans, all eager to bask in his reflected glory and celebrate his high jump silver medal.

It was a brief, glittering moment where his humble origins were momentarily forgotten in a whirlwind of high-profile praise and adulation. His silver medal-winning feat was celebrated with the usual fanfare, but the promise of a stable government job, often dangled as a prize for such achievements, remained nothing more than a mirage.

The irony is rich: here he was, celebrated as a national hero, and yet the promised security of a government job was as elusive as a unicorn. The true reward for Kumar's athletic prowess was the enduring chase for employment amid a backdrop of hollow promises. While his silver medal might have shone brightly, the prospect of a government job remained a distant dream, lost in the haze of bureaucratic indifference.

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Ah, but such is the fleeting nature of fame! Kumar isn't alone, most of India's Paralympians are bravely battling their next hurdles each day. It is almost endearing how these sports heroes find themselves waging solo struggles as if their previous victories didn't quite merit a little support.

"Bhai is the only successful para-athlete in this state. Look at Haryana, the kids win laurels for the country and the government takes good care of them. They are offered government jobs and receive cash awards too. Nishad bhai hasn't been offered either, it's been so many days now. Last time (in Tokyo), there was no announcement. I don't know if they are going to announce anything at all. He participated in Asian Games, World Championships, now Paralympics, but he got nothing. Where will the motivation come from? Other players ask him why he has still not been offered a job, this is very demotivating for an athlete," Kumar's sister Rama Devi told Mid-Day.

The Indian government has often assured that it has boosted its spending on both Olympic and Paralympic programmes. However, this newfound ‘generosity' doesn't always reach beyond the elite few like Nishad who already get all the glory. Whom to blame? The CM? Or the Indian government that claims it is doing its best? Or his sheer bad luck?

While the top performers enjoy their share of the limelight and resources, the rest are left marveling at the trickle-down effect that never quite ‘trickles' down.

As Devi puts it, it didn't take long for Kumar to return to his pre-celebrity rhythm: a relentless cycle of sweat, tears, and the never-ending quest for funds to compete on the international stage. The glamorous gatherings and celebratory toasts only gave way to the harsh reality of fundraising struggles and the daily grind of maintaining peak performance.

Isn't it almost poetic how quickly the glitter of fame can dissolve, leaving behind the steadfast pursuit of athletic excellence amid the same old financial challenges?

Still, in the absence of government support and with a crippling scarcity of infrastructure, Kumar continued. He toiled away in search of another Paralympic medal and he succeeded. Again.

India woke up to unbridled jubilation last Monday as the news trickled in that Kumar had secured his second silver at the Paralympics. Does this mean he would get what he deserves? Nobody knows.

But Rama has not given up yet.

She clings to hope with the tenacity of a true champion's sibling as if surrendering was never an option.

"Umeed toh hain! (There is hope)," she signs off.