Asian Games Gold Medallist Sudha Singh first refused to take the cheque of Rs 30 Lakh from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The reason behind this disapproval was that she wanted a job in the state’s sports directorate at an event in Lucknow on Tuesday.
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Sudha was angry over the government’s refusal to offer her deputy director’s post in the Uttar Pradesh sports directorate despite her achievements that include a gold medal at the 2010 Asian Games (Guangzhou) and the 2018 Asian Games silver in Jakarta.
Sudha left the event without receiving the cheque and said “I need a job, not money. Let this money (be) distributed among young sportspersons of the state, but give me a job,” she said. “There are people in the sports directorate who do not want me to get a job there,” said Sudha Singh, who is as assistant commercial manager with Central Railway in Mumbai.
Sudha accepted the cheque later, following Adityanath’s job assurance. She said “If I do not get the job as deputy director, sports, I will return my prize money and leave the state forever.”
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“If I am not deserving, then the state government, including chief minister sir, should make an official announcement over this. Ever since I won a gold medal at the 2010 Asian Games, I have been running from pillar to post to get a job in my home state, but I have been denied the same on the pretext of rules and regulations,” she added.
Sudha Singh is national record holder in 3000 metres steeplechase event, she has represented India at international events since 2005. She won Silver in the Asian Games 2018.