Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru Jul 14: The state government has failed to give the prize amount of Rs 25 lac that was announced to Gururaj, who won the first medal on the first day of the 21st Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast Australia in the on April 4 this year.
Hailing from Kundapur, son of a truck driver, Gururaj fulfilled his dream of becoming a weightlifter with the help of a watchful coach. In the commonwealth games in Australia, Gururaj bagged a silver medal in the men's 56kg category of weightlifting competition. The 25-year-old weightlifter from Kundapur equalled his personal best of 249 kg to finish second in the competition.
Soon after Gururaj achieved this feat, the then sports minister Pramod Madhwaraj had announced that he will be eligible to get a group B employment with the government for having won a medal at Commonwealth Games and also get prize money of Rs 25 lac. But now the government has changed to the coalition government. The whole family of Gururaj is waiting to get the prize amount from the state government. It has been three months now since Pramod Madhwaraj announced the prize money but Gururaj is yet to receive the amount.
Speaking to Daijiworld.com Gururaj said, "So far I have not got any prize amount or government job as announced by the previous state government. I have been waiting for this from three months. While other states have given prize amount to their respective players, only our state has not given the amount. When the prize amount was announced there was model code of conduct, but now government has changed and I am confident that the coalition government will soon provide me the prize amount. We have submitted the letter in this regard to MLC Srinivas Poojary and MLA Sunil Kumar. Central government has given the prize money it promised but unfortunately the state government has not kept its promise,”
"The condition of our house is very poor and I am in dire need of money. My whole family was delighted when I got silver medal and also when the state government announced the prize amount of Rs 25 lac, but now we are disappointed over the state government's promise. So far no sponsors have come forward to help me. I have to prepare myself for Commonwealth Championship, Asian Championship and World Championship which is scheduled to be held next year." he added.
About Gururaja Poojary
Hailing from Kundapur, Gururaja, son of Mahabala Poojary and Paddu Poojary couple living at Jeddu village, is currently serving in Indian Air Force. He laid added emphasis in honing his skill in weightlifting.
At the national level Gururaj bagged gold medal in 56 kg weight category in All India inter university weight lifting tournament held at Jalandhar. He also won a silver medal in 67th senior level weight lifting championship at Jaipur, bronze medal in 68th senior level weight lifting championship at Patiala and a gold Medal in 69th senior level weight lifting championship held at Nagercoil.
At the international level Gururaj bagged gold medals in the 12th South Asian Fames at Guwahati and senior commonwealth weightlifting championship at Malaysia in the year 2016, bronze medal at senior commonwealth weightlifting championship held at gold coast Austrailia in 2017 and Silver medal at senior commonwealth weightlifting championship at gold coast Austrailia in 2018.
Mahabala Poojary provided good education to his children. Gururaja showed his interest in sports when studying in the government higher primary school at Vandse. The then physical education teacher of the school had encouraged him. His talent came into the open when studying in Mookambika high school, Kollur. The physical education teacher of the school, Sukesh Shetty, extended lot of encouragement to him. Gururaja also got support for his interest in wrestling there. Later, he pursued graduation in SDM College Ujire where Rajendra Prasad trained him in weight lifting in tune with his interests. He got training in SDM sports training institute. He emerged as national champion twice when studying there.