GAIL lends helping hand to gymnast Asmita, Tripura's next Dipa Karmakar

As Christmas celebration is on the peak and children wait for the gift from Santa Claus, state-run GAIL (Gas Authority of India Limited) presented a grant of Rs. two lakh beside a monthly scholarship of Rs. 20,000 for two years to Asmita Paul, another promising gymnast of Tripura who is being billed as the next Dipa Karmakar of India.

During a felicitation programme at its Agartala office, GAIL Executive Director (HR & HRD) Amit Ray handed over the cheque to the budding gymnast in presence of her Dronachariya awarded coach Bisweswar Nandi who also trains Dipa who secured fourth position at the Rio Olympics.

"GAIL has come forward for Asmita who is an upcoming young gymnast and I hope seeing GAIL many other corporate in the years to come not only in gymnastics but in other games also because today it is a need," Ray said.

He informed that beside direct promotion to sports, GAIL is also helping the field through Petroleum Sports Promotion Board and of which GAIL is one of the members.

Ray said that only last week London Olympics bronze medalist and five-time world champion boxer M. C. Mary Kom got a grand of Rs. 20 lakh for setting up her boxing academy.

"I am very happy that GAIL is helping me. With such help, many others like me can do better in gymnastics," said the 15-year old gymnast Asmita who was accompanied by her father, a daily wager and her mother, a domestic help.

Meantime, an emotional mother Silpi Paul expressed: "The help is so that my daughter can continue and do better in her sports. We seek everyone's blessings so that my daughter can give better performance. I sports field there is no assurance but her coach is teaching her the best. We are happy with the help we got here."

Beside Asmita, her coach Bisweshwar Nandi was also felicitated.

Representing India at the World School Championship in Turkey Asmita dreams of an Olympic medal much like her role model Dipa.