Nidhi Singh patel after being welcomed by her supporters and friends on return to her home town after winning gold medal at the Asian biggest powerful power lifting championship Oman, seen in depression that tears could be seen in her eyes. On being asked the reason, hiding her tears she says, “It’s time to quit the game now. It is a matter of great embarrassment for me to be in sports by collection donations. I have been begging since five years in front of these politicians and federation officers for help. Now I have decided to quit the sports. Common wealth power Lifting championship which would take place in Canada would be my last tournament. Now no more participation in the games.”
The only source of income for her family is her father’s pension they get which is not enough to meet her ends meet. It is beyond the capacity of his father Girija Prasad Singh Patel, a fourth grade employee at a college, to manage the amount. “We are looking for some help from generous people,”. He has to feed a family of five in his meagre income.
Recently she has won the title of the most powerful women of Asia. This powerful Asian women, Nidhi,26, a native of Pachera village in Mirzapur district,told, “ I am tired and fed up now approaching the ministers , politicians and the federation officers seeking financial support for my stability in sport. Only promises are being made by them and no one has ever taken a step or has ever kept their promise.
Moreover she says, “ being a girl , i thought to reduce the load of my father by getting name and fame through sports but unfortunately I became load on my father in return.”
“Living in the mud house it’s becomes difficult for them during the raining season for them to ignore the unwanted health hazards that, it bring along with it specially during the time i need to stay fit.” She says.
She has been witnessing this tough time since her childhood days only. From the beginning she has faced the criticisms by her villagers. “ People of my village used to criticise me on my interest in power lifting.” She told.
While talking to her coach, Kamla pati, says proudly, “ Nidhi has the passion and the spirit towrads the game from childhood. In our village Pachewara, we don’t have many facilities so she manages to practise power lifting by tying heavy stone on both the ends of the iron rod.”
“We are contacting people for help, and we will also meet the government official to help her out,” said her coach Kamlapati Tripathi, who runs a fitness centre in Mirzapur. Earlier her three foreign trips to Manila (Philippines), Taiwan (China), and Bournemouth (England) became possible after private donations. While she bagged five gold medals in 2011 Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in England, she won a silver in Asian Benchpress Championships in Manila in 2010 and a bronze Asian Benchpress Championships in Taiwan in 2011.
Her visit to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and the Cabinet Minister. she had also approached to the Chief minister of uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav for the help but unfortunately she didn’t met him. Later she met to the cabinet minister Shivpal singh yadav, she could only get the promise made by him and that too was never kept by.
She says , “ I Have won many international and national level championship, and it is a matter of great shame that not a single politician, government officers or any minsters of my state has never ever honoured or congratulated me on my achievements . “My expenses were borne by some organizations and generous people,” she added that she never received any financial assistance or recognition from the state government
Belonging to a poor rural family Nidhi has so far won 5 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze in international events, and 5 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze in national events.
Achievements of Nidhi-
2015- she has won gold medal in the Asian bench press held in oman in October. Also She has won the title of Asia powerful lady.
2015- Bronze medal in Asian power lifting championship held in October in Hongkong.
2011- Bronze medal in Taiwan Asian bench press
2011- She has won five gold medal in Asian common wealth power lifting held in England.
2010- Silver medal in Asian bench press in Manila.
