Para-athlete Sakina Khatun still waiting for response from Sachin Tendulkar

Sakina Khatun

Apart from being one of the greatest cricketers to step on to the field, Sachin Tendulkar is also known for the work that he has done off the field. It is a known fact that the 41-year-old supports Mumbai-based NGO Apnalaya, through which he sponsors hundreds of underprivileged children. He also supports people who have been diagnosed with cancer and donates regularly to organisations supporting them.

But the Little Master, it seems, has forgotten to keep his promise for one unfortunate athlete. Sakina Khatun was diagnosed with polio when she was one-and-half years old and despite that, made India proud by winning the bronze medal in powerlifting at the Commonwealth Games for para-athletes, held in Glasgow, earlier this year.

The 25-year-old from Bengaluru has won medals for India in several other competitions and yet leads an extremely comfortless life. During the felicitation ceremony that was held following the Games, Khatun received the award from Tendulkar’s hands. At that point, Sakina informed the former Indian cricket captain that her wishes would remain unfulfilled if she didn't get any sponsors or job.

Tendulkar yet to keep up his promise

On listening to her situation, Tendulkar took her phone number and promised to help her out, but she is still awaiting a response from him. Sakina adds that it was a great experience for her to meet the retired legend.

"It was a great experience that my achievement was acknowledged by Sachin sir. I told him that I have been looking for a job for quite a long time, but all my efforts have been futile. I don't even have a sponsor. He took my phone number and promised me that he will surely do something for me," Sakina told Mail Today.

"He (Sachin) is known to be a man of his words. I am still waiting for a response from him and I hope he will be able to do something, which will not only help me, but will also inspire many other athletes to take up para-sports."

Sakina Khatun struggling to compete at top level

The para-athlete comes from a very poor background, with her mother being the only earning member and her father diagnosed with spondylitis. Sakina’s mother works on the farms and earns Rs. 200 a day.

"Financially, it is very difficult for my family to meet the daily needs. But somehow we have survived. I got Rs. 6 lakh as cash reward for the medal I won at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. That is all I have earned so far as cash award. If I have to compete at the top level even that money is not enough so I have to rely a lot on my coach Farman Basha," she added.

Following India’s successful campaign at the 2012 London Olympics, the then sports minister Ajay Maken had said that athletes and para-athletes could take up coaching jobs at Sports Authority of India (SAI) centres, but that scheme never came into effect.