‘I was a daughter of Himachal’: Ritu’s heartbreak after state drops her from reward list
Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Ritu Negi has been excluded from a state-sponsored cash reward list in Himachal Pradesh. The omission has sparked controversy, with critics questioning if her marriage outside the state influenced the decision.
Why it matters
The case highlights ongoing debates regarding regional identity, gender, and the recognition of professional athletes in India.
Former India captain Ritu Negi has represented the country at three consecutive Asian Games, won two gold medals and a silver, and led the women's kabaddi team to the top of the podium at the 2023 edition in Hangzhou. Yet, after being part of India's gold-medal-winning squad again at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the Arjuna Awardee has found herself at the centre of an unexpected controversy in her home state of Himachal Pradesh.Negi's name was missing from the state's list of athletes announced for a cash reward of Rs 1 crore following India's women's kabaddi triumph in Japan. The decision has left the veteran player disappointed and raised questions about whether an accomplished sportsperson should lose recognition from her home state simply because she is married in another state.Negi hails from the Shillai region of Sirmaur district but is married in Panipat, Haryana.
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