Sports Minister asks SAI, Boxing India to help poor Haryana boxer

NEW DELHI: Moved by the plight of a state-level gold-medallist boxer who is working as a domestic help, Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has asked the Sports Authority of India and Boxing India to look into the matter and provide all help to her.

"I have asked SAI and Boxing India to look into the matter and offer all necessary help to the boxer," he said.

Sonowal also asked the Haryana government to offer all possible assistance to the state-level gold-medallist boxer, Rishu Mittal, who hails from the state.

Mittal is reportedly being forced to work as a domestic help to continue her passion for the sport and to support her schooling. The class X student toils hard to support herself and her brother.

Her coach Rajinder Singh said Rishu is a promising talent but needs support to flourish and prove her mettle on a bigger stage.

"The girl and her brother hail from a poor family. Rishu washes utensils, cleans the floor, cooks and does other menial jobs of a domestic help to raise some money," he said.

In between, she struggles to take out time for her daily practice and attend school, as well. He said, if Rishu gets some support from the government and others she can make the country proud just as M C Mary Kom did.

The coach said Rishu had won a gold medal in a state level championship last year and also represented Haryana at the National Championships in December last year.