Charity is Deepika Murthy's goal

They say true charity is the desire to be useful to others without a thought of recompense. Ahmedabad’s only international hockey player Deepika Murthy firmly believes in this philosophy. The women’s goalkeeper has been helping her India teammates secretly without any expectations.

“A few days ago we found out that without any expenditure her bank balance was declining. When asked she said she has been helping her teammates, who come from poor background,” said a state association official.

Deepika is a senior member of the Indian team which has witnessed a few memorable wins. The 29-year-old Amdavadi was
goalkeeper when India won the Asia Cup gold in 2004 and bronze medal in Doha Games in 2006.

According to the official, girls coming from interior parts of Bihar and Jharkhand don’t have enough money to buy necessary kits for the game. At least men hockey players draw a monthly salary from their employers but women’s teams don’t have such a privilege as not all players are employed. “So players like Deepika and captain Mamta Kharab have to burn their pockets. It is really very touching. Because the hockey federation has disappointed the girls,” said the official, while justifying the protest initiated by the women’s team in Bhopal.