Udupi: It’s no secret that cricket is the most celebrated sport in our country where most other sports, not to mention the sportspersons, are still striving to get their due.

Barring a few – the likes of Leander Paes, Sania Mirza, PV Sindhu, Baichung Bhutia and others – who got their share of fame only after achieving laurels at national and international events, others still find themselves struggling to come to the limelight.

A funny yet disappointing trend that we come across in our nation is the financial rewards announced, felicitations given to these sportspersons after they make it big at any event, while these same persons have often been forced to run from pillar to post to avail of the bare minimum facilities that they are entitled to, when they were in the oblivion. That’s not all, as at times the so-called rewards announced by the leaders never really reach the kitty of the sportsperson.

Gururaj Poojary, the CWG silver medalist weightlifter hailing from Udupi, is going through a similar ordeal. A Rs 25 lakh award announced by then sports minister Pramodh Madhwaraj for the man who was the sole winner from Karnataka at the CWG, has still not been handed over to Gururaj.

Hailing from a financially weak background, Gururaj had to struggle hard to pull off this feat and make the nation proud at the CWG. However, the lax attitude of the government has left Gururaj bitter. “Why do the leaders make promises that they cannot keep,” asks a disappointed Gururaj.

Meanwhile, TNM has quoted Madhwaraj as saying that he did commit a folly while publicly announcing a reward of Rs 25 lakh to the athlete since, as per guidelines, only Rs. 15 lakhs can be granted to a sportsperson. A cheque of Rs 15 lakhs will be issued in a day or two he added.

Meanwhile, Gururaj, who is now preparing for the upcoming Asian Games in August, will on July 18 make another round to Udupi to seek the release of the promised amount.