‘Father fell ill… had no other option’: School Nationals boxing medallist works as parking attendant in Chandigarh

For the previous one 12 months, 23-year-old Ritu, a former Boxing School Nationals medallist and Inter-School medallist, has been working as a parking attendant within the Shastri market parking in Sector 22.
The 23-year-old, who stop the game in 2017 as a result of her poor monetary situation, now spends her days accumulating and giving receipts on the busy parking at a every day wage of Rs 350.
“Since my father fell ill in 2017, I had to quit boxing and other sports to support him. While my three brothers work as daily labourers in Mohali and Chandigarh respectively, the income was not enough to support my family. Hence, I started the job of a parking attendant. It has been tough but I have no other option,” says Ritu.

‘Father fell ill… had no other option’
School National degree ladies boxer Ritu works as parking attendant in Sector 22 market in Chandigarh on Sunday.
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While the teenager began boxing on the insistence of Paramjeet Singh, Physical schooling trainer on the Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 20-B, in 2015, Ritu was additionally enrolled in wrestling on the college. She had gained a gold within the 63 kg class inter-school competitors held by UT Administration in 2016, in addition to successful a silver within the Open Inter-School Tournament similar 12 months. She had additionally claimed a bronze within the 63 kg class in boxing in School Nationals Games held by the School Federation of India at Telangana, and was part of Chandigarh colleges group in wrestling and volleyball in the identical event. “Whatever I played, I could play during those three years in school. Once I had to quit school in 2017, the sport stopped for me. I have good memories of playing in school nationals. If I had got support at that time, I would have continued. I could not play in the Chandigarh State or the nationals held by Boxing Chandigarh and Boxing Federation of India as I did not have coach or proper training,” says Ritu.

The teenager had utilized for jobs underneath sports activities quota, however with sportpersons having medals gained on the occasions held by the nationwide federations at junior and senior degree, Ritu didn’t get desire within the total listing underneath sports activities quota. “I have applied with Indian Army and Bihar Police and am awaiting the exams. In the past, I once applied for the post of Home Guard in the UT Police but the post was cancelled after physical test,” says Ritu.
An former boxing participant mentioned that the such gamers needs to be guided to provide trials or coaching on the UT Administration centres. “It’s the negligence of school authorities and they should have sent the player to specialised coaching centres of the UT Administration. Such players are supported free of cost at such centres and when players win medals at the Boxing India or Boxing Chandigarh competitions, they are given preference to the jobs too,” mentioned the participant.