Chennai: The athletes who returned with medals from the Doha Asian Games have been honoured by their states even if they are surrounded by controversy, as in the case of Tamil Nadu's Santhi Soundarajan.
But there are some whose achievements are going unrecognised.
Ranjit Kumar has travelled around the world, quietly doing his bit for India.
He has brought home 21 international medals in shot put and discus throw, five of them gold.
There is one bronze each from the IXth Pacific Games in Malaysia and even the 2006 Commonwealth Games, participating with fully able athletes.
Still, his achievements don't feature on the government's honour shelf.
"The four winners from Doha Asian Games got recognition from Tamil Nadu govertnment. I am happy for them but I've won a bronze in an equally competitive IXth Pacific Games in Malaysia. Why is my win ignored?" Ranjith asks.
From 2002 to 2006, Ranjith, a resident of Madurai, has appealed 17 times for monetary support from the Tamil Nadu government
Each time, the answer was the same: that there is no government order to support physically disabled athletes. Not even if they've won 21 medals.
"When we keep winning medals and our own nation doesn't recognise us, I feel like I should just give up sports altogether. What's the point?" he says.
Ironically, being disabled didn't get in the way Ranjit's athletics, but it has hindered his chances of any support from the government.
A shot put weighs four kgs and even for a normal person to throw it would require great strength. And for a disabled person, it's doubly difficult.
But Ranjit is not asking for empathy from the government.
He is just asking for recognition of his tangible contribution to athletics in India.
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