Yogi Adityanath releases funds for teen shooter’s travel to Germany

The Yogi Adityanath government on Saturday released Rs 4.5 lakh as travel expenses for 19-year-old shooter Priya Singh, who is participating in a world shooting championship.

Priya Singh with the medals she had won.

The Yogi Adityanath government on Saturday released Rs 4.5 lakh as travel expenses for 19-year-old shooter Priya Singh, who is participating in a world shooting championship.

Priya, daughter of a labourer in Meerut, competed in the national camp to attend the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup in Germany and was ranked fourth.

The government funds travel expenses of only those who secure the first three slots. Priya, who had qualified for the ISSF championship with a borrowed rifle, did not have the money to attend the prestigious championship.

Her father, Brijpal Singh, approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for help. “The moment I got to know about Priya’s situation,” Adityanath told the media on Saturday.

Director-General of the Sports Authority of India Neelam Kapur announced on Twitter that Ms. Singh would be part of the national camps that are fully funded by the government.

 “Priya is part of the national camps fully funded by the Govt & is at 4th position in the country. 3 younger girls who scored higher are in the Indian Team. She will be provided all facilities to help her improve her scores and make it to the Indian Team,” she tweeted. Priya had earlier written to the Prime Minister, Adityanath and the state sports minister.

“Priya visited the sports ministry twice. Help came from the CM after the media highlighted her situation on Saturday,” Singh told Sportstar .

Singh, who earns Rs 10,000 a month and has invested his life savings on his daughter's training, said: “My daughter does not have even her own rifle. She had one till the time when she was an NCC cadet in NCC till 2017. She won 17 seventeen medals between 2014 and 2017 in various national and State level sports championships”.

“In order to fund her travel expenses in the country, I sold my buffalo and borrowed money from two persons. But that was not enough to bear the travel expenses to Germany for the ISSF championship. I am extremely happy that the State government has come forward to help,” he said the happy father.