MEERUT: A day after TOI reported that 19-year-old national shooting champion

might have to miss a junior world cup event in Germany for lack of funds, despite securing the fourth spot in the Indian squad, she was flooded with offers of help from the government, individuals and private firms.

The daughter of a Dalit labourer, Priya is one of the six candidates shortlisted to represent India in the 2018

Junior World Cup's 50m rifle prone event to be held in Suhl, Germany, from June 22. Priya who qualified with a borrowed gun might have had to miss the event as the government provides financial assistance to the top three while she was ranked fourth.

Soon after the TOI story was published, UP chief minister

granted Rs 4.5 lakh for her on Saturday. "I also directed the Meerut district magistrate to make arrangements to help her to go to Germany," he said.

Surrounded by reporters, Priya was all smiles on Saturday. "I have received more than 200 calls from all over the country and abroad. People are offering everything from funding of tickets to sponsoring a rifle," she said. A supplier of imported sports rifles has offered to fund her trip as well as provide her a rifle.

I can now live my dream, make nation proud: Priya

A promising sportsperson should not be kept from an international competition for monetary issues. We will take this stance in future so that sportspersons are encouraged to keep up the good work” UP CM Yogi Adityanath said.

“The Times of India has been a big help to me. Now, I can live my dream and bring laurels for my nation,” Priya said. Syndicate Innovations International, a supplier of imported sports rifles, has offered to not only fund her trip but also get her a Feinwerkbau 2700 match rifle, which was used by 2016 Summer Olympics gold medallist Barbara Engleder who set the world record. The company’s director Ashok Rai told TOI: “I did not know about her plight earlier. Our company is happy to sponsor her.”

Union sports minister Rajyavardhan Rathore tweeted, “We will support her. We will help her improve her scores. We will consider providing her a rifle too,” Sports Authority of India director general Neelam Kapur had tweeted.

MP minister for sports & youth welfare Yashodhara Raje Scindia also offered help for Priya. In an email to TOI, Scindia said: “I have asked Olympian Suma Shirur to evaluate the young girl’s prospects and see if she can be a part of our shooting academy at Bhopal. Priya Singh remained one of the top trending topics on Twitter on Saturday.