More financial help pours in for race-walking champion
DEHRADUN: Gurmeet Singh’s resolve to make a mark in the 2016 Brazil Olympics in the race-walking championship has strengthened more than ever as an anonymous donor has decided to fund for his training.
A New Delhi-based donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, has promised to provide him ` 17 lakh, which will cover his preparation expenses for the Olympics. Of the total amount, the first installment of ` 1.25 lakh has already been sent to him in June.
“This help will certainly enable me to put my best foot, forward, literally. I have begun using the funds for active physiotherapy sessions, nutrition, video analysis, dietary supplements, sports kit and psychological support among others. I am really grateful to the donors and also to HT for rallying in to support me,” said Singh, who will also be participating in the IAAF World Championships to be held in China this August.
Earlier, Singh, the son of a farmer, had been knocking on the doors of the state government for help as the condition of his family was far from good.
In March, after Hindustan Times highlighted the plight of this national 20-kilometre race walking record holder, the Uttarakhand Forest Development Cor poration (UKFDC) offered ` 3 lakh assistance for his Olympic preparation. The Mussoorie-based philanthropist, Sunil Sanon, who is known to the donor, said: “A lot of telephonic and email exchanges took place with Singh and his coach in Bengaluru (where he is currently training) to know about his exact requirements after which the donor volunteered to help him,” adding, the donor reached out to Singh after reading the HT report.
Hailing from village Bannu Kheda in district Udham Singh Nagar, this 29-year-old earlier participated in the London 2012 Olympics and won three medals in a row in 2012, 2013 and 2014 at the Asian race walking championships in Japan.
He has also participated in world championship in South Korea and Russia and the World Race Walking Cup in China last year.