Nousheen’s glory counts for little as MP’s selective reward policy leaves her high & dry

Bhopal: She was the toast of Madhya Pradesh’s Seoni district after finishing as India’s top goal-getter at the recent U-18 Asia Cup in Japan. However, those rueful words she said after arriving home to a rousing welcome are now starting to ring true, as almost a month after she picked up the trophy for the top tournament scorer, on June 5, and was serenaded on the streets on her return home, 15-year-old Nousheen continues to await the state’s helping hand.In fact, from the highs of June 5, Nousheen could now count herself as the latest in a long line of promising junior athletes from Madhya Pradesh, who won the country laurels on the international stage, only to be left to fend for themselves thereafter. She is the latest victim of a policy by the state sports department that guarantees govt support only when an athlete has a major achievement to her credit at the senior level.Like many that came before, Nousheen, despite her standout performances and returns at the Sub-Junior Hockey Asia Cup, has been left frustrated and disillusioned by a policy that doesn’t hold accomplishments of junior athletes on a par with those at the senior level.Those big promises of state support remain in limbo for the Seoni girl, as under current departmental rules, she is eligible for a one‑time award of Rs 50,000, a modest sum compared with what many feel is warranted for an international top scorer.

Worse, even that amount has not been officially disbursed or publicly confirmed by the sports department.Sources in the department said the state’s regulations restrict substantial grants and incentives only to athletes who have distinguished themselves at senior national and international levels. “Our policy is designed to reward sustained excellence at senior level competitions,” an official said on condition of anonymity, adding, “Sub‑junior and junior categories do not qualify for large monetary awards under the present rules.

”The rules, as they stand, drew criticism from coaches, athletes and parents, who argued that early investment is crucial to keeping talented youngsters in sport and preventing financial hardship from forcing them to abandon promising careers.“Nousheen brought honour to the country and to Madhya Pradesh. Recognising such achievements early encourages more youngsters to take up sports seriously,” said a coach who has worked with junior and sub-junior hockey teams in the state.Family members of young athletes also voiced concern over the delay in processing even the small amounts promised. “We were told there would be an award, but nothing has materialised yet,” Nousheen’s father, Ahfaz Khan, said, adding, “It’s hard if one is made to wait for even Rs 50,000.”Athletes pointed to a policy gap between recognition and support at a stage when athletes most need encouragement, urging the state to revise its scheme to include larger, timely awards for exceptional performances at junior and sub‑junior international events, along with clearer timelines for disbursal.The sports department, however, defended its position, pointing to budgetary constraints and the need to prioritise sustained, high‑level achievements. Officials added that some support measures — such as training camps and coaching access — are available for junior and sub junior athletes and their academies, even if large cash awards are not.The sports association said a review of the policy was long overdue, arguing that early backing could convert present promise into future senior success.Officials in the sports department refused comments on this perceived policy gap, when contacted.