Punjabi shot putter Inderjeet Singh - the first Indian to qualify for the Rio Olympics 2016 ­ won the gold at ... Read More

PATIALA: Punjabi shot putter Inderjeet Singh - the first Indian to qualify for the Rio Olympics 2016 ­ won the gold at the Asian Athletics Championship in Wuhan on Wednesday.

Inderjeet, 27, who represents Haryana at the National level, clinched the yellow metal with a throw of 20.41 metres, ahead of his nearest rival of Taipei's Chang Ming Huang who registered a distance of 19.56 metres.

However, the joy of winning the gold evaporated quickly as the reality of being jobless hit him hard.

"I am trying to get a decent job for the past two years. Despite promising performances at the Incheon Asiad , World University Games and now again at the Asian Championships , I am jobless. Neither do I have a permanent job, nor a big sponsor," Inderjeet told TOI from Wuhan after his spectacular performance on Wednesday.

"I have no financial resources. My brother gives me some money. I have also used up some funds that my father saved before his death. One of my Canada-based relatives too pitches in with some funds," Inderjeet said.

He added that the only ray of hope came a year ago in the form a sponsorship by private firm "Medal Hunt" which provided him Rs 15,000 per month for his training. "After I qualified for the Olympics, they have increased it to Rs 30,000 per month. But I am afraid that this assistance will be there only till the Olympics."

Despite being the first thrower of India to qualify for Rio 2016, Inderjeet was not included in the first list of players identified by the centre for financial assistance under its Target Olympics Podium Scheme (TOPS).