Indian hockey star PR Sreejesh alleges neglect by Kerala govt; CM Vijayan rejects it

Indian hockey star P R Sreejesh on Thursday alleged neglect of sportspersons and athletes by Kerala government, saying since he has returned from China one even from local bodies has come to visit him.

hockey player's claims were rejected by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who said Left government was providing all kinds of support and encourment to sportspersons and athletes from state.

Speaking to reporters today, Sreejesh said treatment sportspersons get w is being seen by next generation and it will affect ir decision wher to enter field or t.

"y may feel discourd by such treatment and may opt for studies to get a job, rar than go for sports," he contended.

Sreejesh criticised political class in state after West Bengal Goverr CV Ananda Bose, who is from Kerala, met him at his residence in Kochi today to congratulate Indian hockey team's performance in Asian Games.

Sreejesh was part of national hockey team which bagged gold medal in Asian Games 2023 held in China.

CM gave a list of cash prizes given to Sreejesh and or Kerala sportspersons in past for ir accomplishments at various international games.

Apart from giving cash rewards, around Rs 40 lakh has been sanctioned in last few years for improving training infrastructure for sportspersons in state, he claimed while speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

Additionally, Kerala also provides jobs to sports persons under sports quota and it is only state to do so in country, he claimed.

Vijayan alleged that under earlier UDF government, appointments under sports quota were stalled between 2010-2014 and was started again after LDF came to power.

Recently, Leader of Opposition in state assembly V D Saesan had demanded that Kerala government take urgent measures to prevent athletes from leaving state by providing m with jobs and rewards anunced by administration.

In letters sent to Vijayan and Sports Minister V Abdurahiman, Saesan had claimed that sportspersons were reportedly leaving Kerala en masse fed up with alleged neglect y face from state government and sports department.

He said that according to news reports, international Badminton player H S Prany and international triple jump stars Eldhose Paul and Abdullah Abubakar have anunced that y are leaving Kerala.