Olympians pin their hopes on crowdfunding
Representing one’s country at the Olympics is no mean feat. Access to proper training and facilities, and a nutritional diet assist sportspersons to perform their best. But everything comes at a price, and Olympics prep can be really expensive. Not willing to compromise on that front, judoka Avtar Singh and shotputter Om Prakash Singh Karhana have turned to a crowdfunding platform to source their needs, as they aim to represent India at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
“It costs about 30-40 lakh for a sportsperson to prepare for Olympics,” says 25-year-old Singh, who represented India at the Rio Olympics (2016), and works as an assistant sub inspector in Punjab Police.
“On missing a medal in the last Olympics, I realised how much the winners prepared throughout the year,” he says, with the pain still fresh in his mind. “My opponents from across the world participated in 30-40 competitions a year. I had played in just six or seven. Participating in competitions requires money. Isiliye, crowdfunding ka raasta dhoonda,” he adds.
For Haryana-born Karhana, the reason to not look for sponsors was high expectations. “The selections for Olympics 2020 will begin in 2019, and I need around `1.5 lakh every month to provide for my high-protein diet and supplements. Also, special shoes or kits for training! Aur agar koi injury ho jaye, toh doctors aur physiotherapists ki fees add ho jaati hai. We also need money to travel for competitions,” says Karhana, who earns a salary of `60,000 as a security officer at ONGC, Patiala.
Their big goal is a medal at the Olympics. “Medal aata hai to desh ka naam hota hai,” says Singh. “Till now India hasn’t won a medal in athletics at the Olympics. I hope to change this,” adds Karhana.