Mamta Tuddu with her medals and at the family shop in Damodarpur Picture Credit: Google
India's national level archer Mamta Tuddu has now been compelled to sell grocery items in her village. Native of Damodarpur in Dhanbad, the 23-year-old Tuddu is a gold medal winner in junior and sub-junior category in the year 2010 and 2014, respectively. Notably, Mamta shifted to her hometown after COVID-19 enforced lockdown. She was undergoing training at the Centre of Excellence for archery in Ranchi from 2018 and was forced to return after the academy closed down due to mandate lockdown. Later, economic constraints pushed her to stay back.
“I am the eldest among the seven brothers and sisters. All of my younger siblings had to quit their studies midway as my father’s pension is yet to start. So, our family is totally dependent on the income from the makeshift shop where we sell items like roasted and sprouted grams, pakoras, rice flakes and other such items,” Tuddu quoted.
Need government support for sustaining life: Tuddu
Mamta’s father is a retired BCCL employee and her decision to stay alongside the family comes in order to support their income.
“I am still playing at the senior level but need government support for sustaining life,” said Mamta. Notably, Md Shamshad, who coached Mamta from 2009 to 2011 heaped praise on the athelete, quoting “She was one of the most talented archers or our centre. In 2010, she participated in the Mini National Archery Championship held at Vijayawada.”
On knowing her present condition due to economic constraints, coach Shamshad quoted, “When I came to know that she was compelled to sell grams and Pakoras at her village to support the family income, it hurt me.”