Reality 'Cheque': Sports Foundation Throws 'Bouncer' at Mangalorean Achievers!
Naveen Menezes
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Jun 28: It is a known fact that our country's sportspersons, except cricketers, have a harrowing time despite bringing laurels to the country at international levels. They are hardly given the recognition they deserve, and sometimes, even when they do get recognized, (as in this particular case) they are made to go through a tough time to claim what is rightfully theirs.
Bodybuilders Vincent Prakash Carlo and Roshan Ferrao and swimmer Vinod Kharvi are no strangers to Mangaloreans. They are sportsmen who have time and again made their hometown swell with pride. But the sad and sorry state of our sports has now ensured that they are not only made to run from pillar to post for the reward they were promised, but also feel humiliated and helpless.
Vincent Carlo and Roshan Ferrao
Fifteen sportspersons, including the three were honoured with 'Yuvakreedarathna' sports award in March this year. They were given trophies along with cheques of Rs 25,000 each at a ceremony in Bangalore. The awards were jointly instituted by Bangalore Sports Foundation and 'Vishwa Kreedangana' sports magazine.
But it's more than three months now, and they have still not recieved the prize money.
Strangely enough, on March 3 when they were awarded the cheques, they were post-dated, April 7, 2012 to be exact. And rather amazingly, they were told by the organizers to encash the cheque after April 7, as they did not have enough money in the bank!
The awardees willingly waited. And waited and waited. When Vincent went to encash his cheque after the stipulated date, he had to come back disappointed. So also Ferrao and Kharvi, and many others. They were told by the bank that the cheque had bounced and they couldn't get their prize money.
Initially, when Vincent contacted the organizers, they requested him to wait for a few more days, which he did, but to no avail. The same scene was repeated at the bank, where he was told that he couldn't get the money. Since then, the organizers' cell phones have been switched off, and all efforts to contact them have gone in vain. Daijiworld too tried to contact them repeatedly, ending up with the same result.
Speaking to Daijiworld, Vincent said, "We feel ashamed to go to the bank again and again. We are sportspersons, they shouldn't insult us like this."
He further added, "I went to Bangalore for the ceremony spending a lot of money, but I got nothing in return except insult. They organized the programme well, but what was the use?"
He had hopes of using the prize money to prepare for the Asian power lifting. "I have to go to Mount Abu in Rajasthan for the qualifying round of the Asian power lifting championship, for which I need to spend from my pocket. I had planned to use the prize money for that, but now I am deeply disappointed that the cheque got bounced."
Asked how he plans to proceed in the matter, he said that he is contemplating legal action against the organizers and will take appropriate steps soon.
"They should not disappoint sportspersons. We work so hard and put in great efforts to bring name to our country, and this is how we are treated," said Vincent, his face forlorn and full of dejection.
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