Agartala, Feb 11, 2023, TRIPURA TIMES Desk

Agartala, Feb 11: Nineteen years old Tripura’s pride Asmita Dey, who is preparing for 2024 Olympics has appealed for financial help, which will enable her to participate in Tashkent Grand Slam in order to improve her current ranking.

Asmita, who clinched Bronze in 48-kg category from Asian Judo Championship held in July, 2022 last, said the tournament will start from March 3 next at Uzbekistan's Tashkent for which she will have to deposit Rs 96519 at earliest.

She said that in order to qualify for the Olympics the international ranking plays a vital role so she wants to participate in the tournament with top players from all around the world.

Asmita said the players were asked to bear their own expenses to participate in such tournaments, so she will have to deposit Rs 50,000 in the Judo Federation of India bank account for registration and Rs 46,519 in the booking agent's account.

“Asmita is very talented; she has been with me for the last three years. Now she is ready to compete with the best in the world,” Yashpal Solanki, her coach said.

He said, “Although we send her abroad but the government has some limited resources, we sent her to Asian championship, we sent her to Spain for exposure for 18 days, and we want to send her again but right now she needs immediate support, she have to participate in two, three Grand Slams to start her campaign for Olympics, the qualifying rounds are already started. We are already late because she got injured two months back, now she is recovered. We have to send her to the Grand Slam which is going to be held in Tashkent.”

She might not get any medal, but it will help her to gain experience for the upcoming Junior world Championship and to prepare herself for elite events, the coach added.

Solanki said, “The Judo Federation of India does not have a budget; it totally depends on government aid, which they have already utilized and exhausted.”

“If god keeps her away from injuries she has the capabilities to participate in at least three Olympics,” he added.

“Other players managed to participate in the event on their own, but Asmita belongs from a poor family and needs immediate support from the state that is at least Rs. 1.5 lakh for the Tashkent Grand Slam,” the coach said.