Mamata Banerjee blatantly takes credit for Odisha-based Pranati Nayak's bronze win; Details inside-

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee seems to be interested in playing politics over sports apart from horrifying crimes happening against women in Sandeshkhali. Why I am saying this because a tweet by the CM of Bengal has stirred up controversy in which she has praised India's ace gymnast Pranati Nayak who won a bronze medal in the women’s vault event at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics Apparatus World Cup 2024 in Cairo, Egypt on Saturday. There is no problem with it. So what happened?

Notably, Pranati Nayak was born and brought up in Bengal but had to shift bases to Odisha after the state failed to support her. She has even admitted that the transition to Odisha did provide a conducive environment that helped her thrive. It is also pertinent to mention that she represented Odisha in the 37th National Games, held in Goa in 2023, and won 4 Golds and 1 Silver medal. For these victories, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik honored her with a Rs 23 lakh cash award and promised all the support she needed.

But, Mamata Banerjee, out of nowhere, jumped in to congratulate the Indian gymnast. In an X post, she blatantly said, "Congratulations to our Bengal girl Pranati Nayak for winning bronze in vault event in the gymnastics world cup 2024 in Cairo! Best wishes for further progress in the global arena!"

However, this is not the first time wherein an Indian athlete has failed to support the aspiring players. Last year, Triyasha Paul, a rising cyclist, hit headlines for her exceptional performance at the 2023 National Games, securing gold, silver, and bronze while representing Delhi. However, her switch from West Bengal to Delhi was not merely a sporting decision but a response to the lack of support from her home state. "My state, West Bengal, does not support me," she was quoted as saying to The Bridge.

"I have won 15 international medals, I also achieved a national record in the time trial event at the U18 level in 2019 in Hyderabad. Still, the West Bengal government has never provided me with any support; they do not even know who I am and what sports I play. I had pleaded for help because the cycle that I use is so costly. Each cycle costs around Rs 10 lakh. The state sports ministry did not even pick up our calls. My brother, Akash, tried to reach out to the ministry but our effort went in vain," alleged Triyasha.

While the state government led by Mamata Banerjee, is quick to claim credit and congratulate successful athletes, the underlying problem remains unaddressed - Politics over sports. These instances lack support and recognition from their home state, forcing them to seek opportunities elsewhere. So what about the players who relentlessly represent the state but fail to gain much-needed aid? This matter calls for attention from the sports world which hinders the growth of sports in the state. Only through a genuine commitment to nurturing sports at the grassroots level can West Bengal hope to produce more successful athletes and contribute significantly to the nation's sporting achievements rather than taking false credit for the players who represent other states.

Yet, it's important to remember that success of Nayak is because of her dedication, talent, and hard work. Though Odisha provided the ideal platform for her talent to flourish, ultimately, it was her perseverance and commitment that she got a podium finish.