They should be the pride of a billion, but often the lives of our sportspersons do not bear the value their medals have. While their victories are cherished, their lives are ignored.
In an attempt to help deserving sportspersons in India, Milaap, a mission-driven crowdfunding platform has started a new initiative called ‘Our Champions, Our Pride’. The platform opens up several ways to highlight the problems faced by sportspersons. Apart from extending help through contributions, anyone who comes across a promising athlete can use the platform to share his/her story and seek support.
Stories of medal-winning athletes toiling every day to make a living is not something we are unfamiliar with. But apart from debates and public outcry, no real action is taken to help these athletes break away from their cycle of hardship.
The first champion to grab our attention was boxer Mrunal Bhosale from Pune, who is struggling to keep his boxing dreams alive. Despite being a national boxing champion, Mrunal has to drive a goods carrier to make ends meet. He is known as the ‘tempowala’ near his home in Pune's Budhwarpeth area. Mrunal's national medal was the result of eight long years of hard work. But the achievement did not bring a change for the better in his life. Mrunal dreams of an international medal to make his country proud and it is this dream that keeps him going through his struggles at odd jobs.
Mrunal’s coaches have advised him to take nutrition supplements, but since he cannot afford them, he has to manage with simple home-cooked food. Milaap is helping raise funds for the boxer through the Our Champions, Our Pride campaign. All the funds raised will go towards Mrunal's training, travel expenses and championship registration requirements.
Earlier in 2014, Milaap had also successfully crowdfunded support for Arjuna Award winning boxer L Sarita Devi in her fight for justice. The support and solidarity she received was an inspiration to stand up for every sportsperson in need.
There are many like Mrunal who dream of bringing laurels to the country, but get bogged down by their daily struggles. Let's stand up and lend encouragement and support to India's unsung sports heroes.
The author works with Milaap.
