REPORTED BY SHRIYA GUPTA
Jammu Youth Athlete Explodes at the System — Asks, “What Is the Life of a Sportsman Worth in This Country?”
A young athlete from Jammu & Kashmir has sparked a major debate after openly questioning the government and the system over the neglect of sportspersons despite years of hard work and achievements.
In a statement that is now going viral on social media, the youth asked a painful question:
“If a player still remains unemployed after giving 10 years to sports and winning medals, then what exactly is the value of a sportsman’s life?”
The athlete said that while politicians and local parties are constantly giving speeches against drugs and encouraging youth to join sports, the reality on the ground is completely different. According to him, many players in Jammu & Kashmir continue to struggle without jobs or financial security even after representing the region at national and international levels.
The youth directly questioned both former Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, saying that every authority keeps shifting responsibility onto someone else while athletes are left suffering.
“On one side, the government says they don’t have the power. On the other side, athletes are sent to the LG office. But in the middle of all this politics, a player’s future is being destroyed,” he said.
The youth also criticized Jammu & Kashmir Sports Minister Satish Sharma, claiming that even national and international medalists are being handed only ₹11,000 as recognition.
“Can ₹11,000 build someone’s future? Can it support a family?” he questioned.
According to the athlete, Jammu’s youth today are divided into two realities — those who were forced to leave their homes and move outside the region in search of opportunities, and those who are slowly breaking under unemployment and hopelessness.
He further stated that if deserving athletes were given proper opportunities and stable jobs, many young people could be saved from falling into drugs and depression.
The most emotional part of his statement came when he said:
“A child spends his entire childhood training, sacrifices years of life, wins medals for the country… and in the end receives nothing except struggle. Doesn’t that hard work deserve a future?”
The statement has now gone viral across social media platforms and has reignited serious discussions in Jammu & Kashmir regarding sports policy, unemployment, and the future of young athletes.
