Every year, several sports enthusiasts in India represent the country in competitive events and win accolades we don’t even get to know about. After winning medals for the country they’re born in, one would think they would have a bright future. But apart from cricketers, hardly any other sportsperson’s life changes for good after playing for the country.
Among these dedicated individuals is Polami Adhikary from West Bengal who has represented India at the international level.
Polami is an ace football player who has played in several under-16 tournaments including many national and international ones. She has also represented India in foreign countries like the UK, Germany, and Sri Lanka, among others, reported The Indian Express.
But today, the footballer has to work as a delivery executive for her bread and butter. In a video that’s now going viral, a man was seen interviewing Polami wherein she shared her plight.
“I’m professionally a football player. I have played several national and international games. But since nothing worked out, I got into this profession to earn a living.”
A third-year student, Polami stays with her dad after her mother passed away when she was young and her elder sister got married. Currently, she is the only earning person in her family who manages to collect somewhere around Rs 150- Rs 400 every day. The person interviewing her was in shock to know that once an international player, Polami now has to take up menial jobs to fill her stomach.
Captioning the video, the user wrote:
“She is Polami Adhikary a football player who has represented India at the international level. Today she has to support her family as an online food delivery person.”
Watch her here:
She is Polami Adhikary a football player who has represented India at the international level. Today she has to support her family as an online food delivery person. #football pic.twitter.com/pGnJ0QOUEg
— Sanjukta Choudhury (@SanjuktaChoudh5) January 10, 2023
People online sympathized with her grim situation and bashed the government for not looking after sportspersons like her and showering money on Indian cricketers who are already rich and famous.
These people are left high and dry by the govt but cricketers like Rishab Pant , already a rich man are promised full medical reimbursement after an accident entirely of his own making. And the P.M loses no time in making solicitous enquiries
— Ravichandran R (@Ravicha12454047) January 11, 2023
Thanks for bringing it up. Let’s hope plight of such sportspeople is discussed in national media.
— Amitabha Saha (@asaha71) January 10, 2023
With due respect to her struggles, why all of you are suddenly awake? This is the general situation. Always been. Nobody cares about our footballers, neither Maidan nor Govts. Those who can secure a job gets saved else if anybody thinks to pursue football as career, end!
— Abhrasnata Sarkar (@Abhratwitting) January 10, 2023
Till we have this situation how can we aspire to produce world class athletes and sportspeople? A country which cannot take care of its representatives in sports needs to introspect.
— Amit K Paul (@theamitkpaul) January 11, 2023
That’s very sad! Have seen this with so many other sports that is not cricket. From boxing to hockey and now football.
— Abhi.rup (@notworldlywise) January 11, 2023
Sad. All the money and focus is on pyjama cricket.
— LOL Before The Storm🎭 (@Gr8GigOnTheSly) January 11, 2023
Indian Selfish, Cunning, Corrupt society has given up all values of Humanity.
Richer are getting more attention, good treatment and the poor are being neglected. Politicians are part of this brainless society. https://t.co/kEbv7O0FT5
— *The_Happiest* (@plutotrainings1) January 11, 2023
Rishab Pant gets medical treatment at expense of us Tax Payers for crashing his car while falling asleep at the wheel. He is a rich cricket player. She is female & a football player. #Shame on #India for treating it’s talent like this. BMKJ & yes, Beti Bachao. https://t.co/k9yQG5Pwr8
— Mona Ambegaonkar (@MonaAmbegaonkar) January 11, 2023
Why? Is it the sport? Is it her gender? Why this state of things ?? @gaGunNarang @PTUshaOfficial https://t.co/yJpOez0W9M
— Vaishali Neotia (@VforVaishali) January 11, 2023
That's the state of football in a country where it's biggest resources are it's people. @AIFF_Insider https://t.co/xUGGg1ZXqo
— Mohammed Asif (@djasif) January 11, 2023
Inflation at its best https://t.co/yBIRO3S28b
— Ria (@RiaRevealed) January 11, 2023
Shame on us all. How we treat our #sportspersons. Does the govt never wake up from its deep slumber and take cognisance of many such reports? #football https://t.co/FDfPsFY9o5
— विद्योत्तमा Vidyottama (@VidyottamaPS) January 11, 2023
It’s only the fortunate ones who are given government jobs and millions of rupees for winning medals for the country. Others like Polami still have to work hard and take up odd jobs to make ends meet. Such a heartbreaking reality.