Story of Rashmita Patra- She was a legendary player in India, Now forced to sell Betel Nuts for living

Why is it that some Indian athletes of various sports don’t get the good income they deserve? Is it the fact that they don’t play cricket to represent the nation? Every sport deserves equal praises right? The equation is all the same as all of them play for India.

We have heard Asian Games medalist selling Tea to make ends meet, we have also heard about international player selling fruits to fund the tournament. Let’s learn about Rashmita Patra. She was among the forgotten Indian athletes and was in fact, the pride of women’s football in India. Today, the greatest defender of women’s football is forced to sell betel nuts to make ends meet.

Credits: Sportskeeda

Since the age of 12, Rashmita was a passionate footballer and her internet for football took her to a whole new level. She went on to represent India in the AFC for the under-16 women’s qualifier in the year 2008.

Her staggering performances helped her state team Odisha get the national women’s football for under-19 in the year 2010. She grew from strength to strength and helped the senior Indian team win an invitational series in Bahrain. Moreover, she also helped the senior Odisha team become national champs too.

She was the next big face in women’s football in India. But what happened next was something hard to put it in words. She had all the talent but she couldn’t continue to play longer due to poverty and lack of support.

The game which she loved the most did not help her feed the hungry stomachs in her family. The man she married had no stable income and also the game did not permit her to finish her studies and thereby, she faced so much pressure was forced to open a betel shop to make ends meet.

She is finding it very challenging and she even admits that she does miss the game much but these circumstances stopped her career from flourishing to a great extent.

Athletes should be treated fairly. They are the ones who bring laurels to India and despite which sport they play, they all should be given equal priority.