India cricketer Sushma Verma honoured by Himachal Pradesh CM; Olympian Vijay Kumar cries foul

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Tuesday honoured India women’s cricket team wicketkeeper Sushma Verma with a cash award of Rs 5 lakh and a job of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) for her exploits in the ICC Women’s World Cup held in London in July. [caption id=“attachment_3911161” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Sushma Verma in action in the Women’s World Cup. AP[/caption] The CM lauded Sushma for bringing laurels to the state and said that it was duty of the state government to honour and encourage such achievers in field of sports. However, according to a report on The Indian Express, this news became a bitter pill to swallow for Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar, who expressed his displeasure over being ignored by the state government time and again . “I am shocked and feel sad as how all medals and confers which came to me, have become meaningless in my own state. I feel discriminated,” says Kumar, who hails from Hamirpur district. Kumar, who won the silver medal in the 2012 Olympics for the 25 metres rapid fire pistol, has won competitions both in the national and international levels including the Commonwealth and Asian games. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna awardee is still hoping for a government job for his achievements. While other Olympians like Mary Kom, PV Sindhu and Sushil Kumar have been given government appointments, he has been waiting for response from his state’s sports department since his retirement from the army in February. Meanwhile, Verma, the first cricketer to represent Himachal Pradesh in the Indian national women’s cricket team, expressed her gratitude to the CM for giving her the cash prize and offering her the job of DSP. Verma, who was part of the Indian squad that reached the final of the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup before losing to hosts England by nine runs, is from the Himri panchayat in Shimla(Rural). Incidentally, the chief minister represents the Shimla (Rural) assembly constituency. “After fulfilling my dream as a woman cricketer of international ranking, my second dream of joining the police has come true. I really feel privileged and honoured by the state government’s offer,” said Verma.