Ranchi: A day after chief minister Hemant Soren took cognisance of a TOI report highlighting the plight of 29-year-old throwball player Amardeep Kumar, the state sports department on Wednesday said it was exploring ways to rehabilitate the athlete and help him lead a dignified life. However, the department did not indicate any timeline for extending support.In a statement on X, the sports directorate said the existing state policy does not provide cash rewards or govt jobs to athletes associated with sports that are not recognised by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). It added that the department had requested the Jharkhand Olympic Association to take steps towards securing wider recognition and a proper platform for throwball.The development comes a day after Hemant directed the sports department to take immediate note of the athlete’s situation and initiate “suitable action”. The chief minister’s response followed a TOI report, which was shared on X by former Jamshedpur MP and former state Congress president Ajoy Kumar, drawing attention to Amardeep’s struggles despite his international achievements.Speaking to TOI on Wednesday, Amardeep said officials from the Jharkhand Milk Federation (Medha) had contacted him. “They sought details regarding my educational qualifications and asked whether I possess a commercial driving licence. They said they would see what best could be done. Let’s see,” he said.Amardeep was only 13 when a local player spotted his interest in sports during a summer vacation and began training him free of cost at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium. Among the various disciplines taught there, throwball captured his imagination.The son of a vegetable seller quickly progressed through the ranks and eventually earned a place in the Indian team. His international gold medal haul began at the Asian Junior Throwball Championship in Malaysia in 2015. He subsequently won gold at the Indo-Nepal Throwball Championship in Kathmandu in 2017, the South Asian Throwball Championship in Bengaluru in 2019, and the second edition of the South Asian Throwball Championship held in Ranchi earlier this year. Despite these, he has been working as a cab driver and helping his family sell vegetables to make ends meet.
