A day after HT reported on para-athlete Prasanta Karmakar's preparations for the Commonwealth Games, a Bangalore-based IT firm came forward to provide monetary assistance to three athletes including the 29-year-old swimmer.
Karmakar had indicated government apathy and Paralympics Committee of India's neglect towards para-athletes. He said he was spending close to R 60,000 from his personal expenses towards diet and training every month.
On Wednesday though, he and two fellow athletes — Parmar Basha and Sharad Gaekwad — were promised a sum of R 1 lakh towards training and an additional R 50 lakh for each CWG medal. “The company called me to its office to let me know of their decision,” Karmakar said.
The Delhi games have 15 medals for para-sport. Athletes from 26 countries will participate in four disciplines — athletics, swimming, table tennis and powerlifting.
On Wednesday, the Organising Committee of the CWG appointed Otto Bock Health Care India as the official "Para-Sport Services Provider".