Despite her recent good performances in the ITF circuit, 21-year-old B. Sowjanya is staring at an uncertain future due to non-tennis reasons. Fresh from her singles title and a doubles final appearance in China recently — she has won three singles and five doubles ITF titles so far — Sowjanya is not sure who will come to her rescue even as she prepares to represent India in the World University tennis championship in South Korea from July 3.
Sowjanya, India’s No. 6 in women’s singles and one of the four-member Indian team, played a key role in Osmania University winning the gold in the South Zone championship but has now been told to fend for herself in her efforts to mobilise funds for the South Korean event.
She has been told that there is no designated authority to release funds though it was the university which had initially promised to take care of. And, she needs a minimum of Rs. 1.6 lakh to take part in the meet.
It may yet turn out to be a sad story of talented sportsperson left to herself despite all the big talk of promoting sports in a big way. Only recently the newly-formed Telangana State Government cleared all the incentives that were due to some of the leading lights.
But nothing has been said so far on those who represented Telangana in the last edition of the National Games and won medals. For the record, Sowjanya won two silver medals, in women’s team and doubles events. She is yet to get, like any of the medal-winning athletes from the State, any incentive.
The only saving grace is that the Osmania University officials have promised to reimburse the expenditure once a clearer picture emerges on the financial front later on. But doubts remain whether that will happen or not.
“We cannot go on record on this tricky subject. It is a fact that we are not even sure of what funds are earmarked for sports,” said a senior OU official.
“I have targeted to break into the top 100 in women’s singles but given the scenario, I am not sure how many events I am going to take part,” said Sowjanya, who has been training at the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy near here for the last six months.
