CONRAD DIAS
Ranchi, June 28: Veteran international javelin thrower Maria Goroti Khalkho of Ranchi is currently fighting lung sickness and a mountain of debt. She participated in several national and international events in the 1970s, winning multiple gold and silver medals. She spent over 30 years of her life instructing other athletes for the javelin throw after participating at the highest level.
Since she had devoted her entire life to her sport, she did not even get married. Maria currently resides at her sister’s home in Ranchi’s Namkum area. The financial situation of her sibling is also not good. Her health has declined over the past several months to the point where her arms, which had once displayed uncompromising strength in the sports arena, are now unable to lift even a glass of water.
The Jharkhand Sports Department took note of Maria’s situation and gave her an urgent help of Rs 25,000. She had previously received financial support from the department for Rs 1 lakh from the Players’ Welfare Fund, but this sum was quickly depleted because of the high cost of her medications and medical care.
The president of the Jharkhand Grappling Association, Praveen Singh, claims that despite the state government’s several announcements in support of former athletes, no actual plan could be put in place to assist them.
“Her condition is not good. She is suffering from TB and one of her lungs is not functioning. The amount that Jharkhand Sports Department has provided for her medication is very less. She is not even receiving her pension,” he said.
The former athlete, 64, is not even eligible for an old-age pension. The physicians have instructed Maria to drink milk, eat eggs, and eat nutritious food but she is unable to afford any. Her family spends more than Rs 4,000 per month on her medication. Maria has been struggling with debt of more than Rs 1 lakh ever since the commencement of the lung ailment.
Maria had desired to be an athlete since her childhood. She won a gold medal in the national javelin competition in 1974 while she was a class 8 student. At the All India Rural Summit, she also won the gold medal in the javelin throw.
She earned the gold medal in the 1975 Manipur-based national school tournament. When the International Javelin Meet was held in Jalandhar in 1975–1976, Maria once more took home a gold medal. She showed her talent in numerous national and local events in 1976–1977 as well.
Maria switched to coaching in the 1980s. She worked as a coach at the Government Training Centre in Mahuadanr, Jharkhand, from 1988 until 2018, earning between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 per month.
Since the employment was contractual, Maria was left with virtually no money even after retirement. Many athletes, including Yashika Kujur, Ambresia Kujur, Pratima Khalkho, and Reema Lakra, who took Maria’s javelin throwing classes have won medals in numerous domestic and international events.
