Sports Ministry provides financial assistance of Rs 2.5 lakh to deaf tennis player Jafreen Shaik

• 12, Mar 2021

Union Sports Ministry has provided a financial assistance of Rs 2.5 lakh to deaf tennis player Jafreen Shaik from the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons (PDUNWFS). This will help to continue her training despite hurdles in the quest to win a gold at the Summer Deaflympics scheduled in Brazil later this year or next year.

Jafreen, 23, was the recipient of a bronze medal at the 2017 Summer Deaflympics in the mixed doubles event, where she partnered Prithvi Shekhar. That was India’s very first medal at the Deaflympics in tennis. She had also represented India at the 2013 Deaflympics.

Jafreen was training in China to participate in the Summer Deaflympics 2017. Prior to that, she had undergone training at the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy in Hyderabad for free from 2013 to 2017.

Under Deendayal Upadhyaya Fund, financial assistance up to Rs 2.5 lakh is given to sportspersons for training, procurement of equipment and participation in national and international sports events. Financial assistance is also given to the parents of sportspersons who are living in dire conditions.

Sources : News on AIR