Rajkumar Tiwari had a torrid life fulfilling his dream of becoming an ice skater. He delivered newspapers in the morning and got a job in the jewelry store in the rest of day to cover expenses for his weekend training schedule.
Many, including he himself, thought that his life would change once he bagged the gold medal at the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2013 in Pyeongyang in North Korea. However, it proved to be of no avail.
Rajkumar cannot still pay for his travel expenditure and training regimes and has already missed two important ranking tournaments. He has taken up a cleaning job and washes utensils to make ends meet.
“There are days when I have to skip training because I don’t earn enough money to pay Rs 500 fee per day for practicing at the rink. The upcoming championships are important to accumulate points and qualify for the World Championships. I need the government’s help urgently,” Rajkumar said in an exclusive interview to TOI.
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has promised to solve his financial problem once he takes time to meet him as he is eligible to receive government aid under the National Sports Development Fund.
Right now, Rajkumar is surviving on crowdfunding but to go further government’s help is required.
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