Anup, who has been skating for 25 years, said things need to change and that skaters must be treated with respect
Arjuna Award winner Anup Kumar Yama poses with young skaters from his skating academy on the sidelines of a felicitation function in Hyderabad on Saturday. (Photo: DC)
Hyderabad: Telangana’s Anup Kumar Yama, who was recently conferred the Arjuna Award for bringing laurels to India in the field of skating, was beaming with joy. “I am delighted to have received the Arjuna Award. My phone has not stopped ringing. My relatives, friends and students have been calling to congratulate and wish me luck for my future. It’s a great feeling as I have finally been recognised,” Anup said on the sidelines of an event organised to felicitate the skater in Hyderabad on Saturday.
But his smile was short-lived. When asked if the state government or the authorities have wished him, Anup said: “I have not heard a word from the state government. Not even a congratulatory call. Even from the Sports Authority of Telangana State. I feel very bad,” the gold medal winner at the 2013 World Artistic Roller Skating Championship added.
Anup, who has been skating for 25 years, said things need to change and that skaters must be treated with respect. “We need a good infrastructure for skating in the state and that’s all that I am asking for from the government. We skate on cemented floors. We don’t have a single facility that has a wooden rink. We cannot take it anymore. I also urge the government to treat us at par with the athletes in other sports. The government spends lakhs on them but not us. This has to change,” the 2010 Asian Games bronze medal winner said.
September 5 being Teacher’s Day, it was only fitting that young skaters came up to Anup and greeted their coach. “Today at the academy a lot of kids met and told me that they wanted to be like me in the future. They told me that I have inspired them to take up the sport seriously and that they will try and make a career out of it. Small things such as this keep me going,” Anup, who also coaches kids at the Yama Skating Academy, added.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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