‘I was a daughter of Himachal’: Ritu Negi’s heartbroken after home state drops Asian Games gold medalist from Rs 1 crore prize money list

Indian Kabaddi player Ritu Negi. (NOT a photo) Former India captain Ritu Negi has represented the country in three consecutive Asian Games, winning two gold medals and a silver and leading the women’s kabaddi team to the top stage at the 2023 edition in Hangzhou. After once again being part of India’s gold medal-winning team at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the Arjuna awardee found herself at the center of an unexpected controversy in her home state of Himachal Pradesh.Negi’s name was missing from the state sportsperson’s list which was announced for a cash prize of 1 million rupees after Indian women’s kabaddi triumph in Japan. The decision left the veteran woman disappointed and raised questions about whether a successful athlete should lose recognition from her home state just because she is married in another state.Negi hails from Shillai area of ​​Sirmaur district but is married in Panipat, Haryana. This omission was particularly difficult to understand as she received prize money from Himachal Pradesh after the Indian women’s kabaddi team won gold at the 2023 Asian Games while she was captain.However, this time her name was omitted while three other players from the state were included in the award list.“Until a week ago, I was a daughter of Himachal and the CM shared congratulations on Facebook, while former CM Jairam Thakur and Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur called me to congratulate me,” Negi told the media, expressing her displeasure.“I just don’t understand what changed so suddenly two days ago.

“Why is Himachal Pradesh behaving this way at this stage of my career?”

The decision to exclude Negi struck a particularly sensitive chord because of her long association with Indian kabaddi and her contribution to the state’s sporting reputation.The veteran has represented India in three consecutive Asian Games, winning two gold medals and a silver. She led the women’s team to gold in Hangzhou in 2023 and remained part of the team that successfully defended the title in Japan.India overcame Iran 37-34 in a thrilling final at the Aichi-Nagoya Games and held on to their lead in the closing stages to clinch another Asian Games gold.The achievement should have been another moment of pride for the player and her home state. Instead, the omission from the reward list caused Negi to question the recognition she was given.She pointed out that although she is employed by Indian Railways, she consistently represents Himachal Pradesh and not Haryana in domestic competitions.“Why is Himachal Pradesh behaving in this way at this stage of my career?” she asked.For Negi, the matter goes beyond a financial incentive. It is a recognition of India’s years of representation and maintaining its sporting connection with the state it hails from.

The Indian women’s kabaddi team after winning the gold medal at the Asian Games in Japan.

Her father asks: Does a daughter cease to belong to her state after marriage?

Negi’s father, Bhavan Singh Negi, also questioned the decision, asking whether a daughter ceases to belong to her home state just because she marries elsewhere.Speaking from Shillai in Sirmaur district, he pointed out that his daughter had received a cash reward from the Himachal government after the 2023 Asian Games despite getting married in Haryana.This precedent makes the latest omission even more difficult for the family to understand. She believes that marriage should not erase an athlete’s roots or reduce her contribution to the state she continues to represent in domestic competitions.The controversy has since drawn reactions from political leaders and people associated with sports in Himachal Pradesh.The debate thus became more than just a reward announced after sporting success. This has raised questions about how states recognize athletes who continue to make a difference despite changes in their personal circumstances.

Why three kabaddi players were awarded Rs 1 crore each

The controversy arose after Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced a cash reward of Rs 1 million each for three players from the state who were part of the Indian women’s kabaddi team that won the gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.The recipients were Pushpa Rana, Jyoti Thakur and Bhawna Thakur. Indian cricketer Renuka Thakur was also announced as the recipient of Rs 1 million in recognition of her achievements.The announcement followed an earlier disagreement over the amount offered to kabaddi players. Initially, the three players were informed that they would get Rs 33 crore each, a figure they felt was lower than their entitlement under the state sports policy. Subsequently, they met Sukhu to express their concerns regarding monetary incentives and employment opportunities.Pushpa Rana said the players were disappointed with the initial announcement.“Look, we were very disappointed because as per the sports policy, we were not given the amount due to us. So literally, everyone would be disappointed,” she told IANS.After the meeting, the Chief Minister assured the players that the reward would be increased to Rs 1 crore each. The state government has also announced government jobs for three kabaddi players with options in the police department or the youth and sports services department.While the revised announcement addressed players’ concerns about the amount, Negi’s omission from the list brought a new controversy into the limelight.

The government promises to review the decision

The Himachal Pradesh government has not publicly provided a definitive explanation as to why Negi’s name was removed from the list.Sports Minister Yadvinder Goma said he was not aware of the reason for the change and would examine the file before discussing the matter with the chief minister.Meanwhile, sources in the state government said officials are monitoring the Haryana government’s stand on the matter. They suggested that Himachal Pradesh might consider the decision later, especially since Haryana is yet to announce the reward money for Negi.Sources also said that her employment with Indian Railways was not a factor in the matter.The distinction is important because Negi claimed that she continued to represent Himachal Pradesh in domestic competitions despite her marriage and employment outside the state.Whether the government will eventually revise its list remains to be seen. For now, a possible way to resolve the dispute is offered by the assurance of the minister of sports that he will examine the matter.

Another gold medal, but a different kind of disappointment

For Negi, the timing of the controversy is particularly poignant.She captained women’s kabaddi to gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and received recognition from her home state. At the Aichi-Nagoya Games, she was once again among the Indian players who helped defend the title, contributing to a campaign that ended with another gold medal for the country.Her sporting journey was built on representing India at the highest level while still identifying with Himachal Pradesh. The latest controversy has put the relationship under an uncomfortable spotlight.Negi’s case also points to a wider challenge in Indian sport: ensuring that the recognition of athletes reflects their achievements and contributions, rather than becoming entangled in questions of residency, marriage or administrative eligibility.The government has yet to express its final position and the possibility of reconsideration remains open. Until then, the former India captain’s disappointment is a reminder that recognition can matter as much as the reward itself.