Moumita Mondal: A Champion Feeling Overlooked Despite Bringing Glory to Bengal

For now, she continues to represent Bengal out of love, loyalty, and an emotional attachment to her home state. But athlete Moumita Mondal admits she does not know how much longer she can continue doing so.

As she speaks about her experiences, there is a clear sense of disappointment and hurt.

Despite being one of Bengal's most successful athletes, Moumita feels that her achievements have gone largely unrecognized.

A Remarkable Medal Record

Her accomplishments are impressive by any standard.

Over the course of her career, Moumita has won 31 medals for Bengal across various competitions. She is currently ranked No. 2 in India in her discipline, a position that places her among the country's elite athletes.

Yet, according to her, the recognition and support she expected have never arrived.

Forced to Train Outside Bengal

Originally from Zirat in Hooghly district, Moumita has spent much of her athletic career training outside West Bengal.

She previously trained in Bhubaneswar and is now based in Mumbai for her preparation.

Asked why she has had to leave Bengal to pursue her sporting ambitions, her answer is straightforward:

"What choice do I have? I don't get the facilities or opportunities I need in Bengal."

Because of her training commitments, she gets very little time at home, often spending only a week or so in Bengal over an entire year.

Yet whenever she competes, she continues to represent Bengal.

The Financial Frustration

Moumita is equally candid about the financial challenges she has faced.

"I've won so many medals for Bengal, yet I receive almost nothing in return."

According to her, after winning medals she received a token reward of ₹5,000 from the association, but claims she never received the government incentives she was entitled to.

What makes the situation harder to accept, she says, is seeing athletes in other states receive significantly larger rewards.

"When I see athletes from other states getting ₹70,000, ₹80,000, or even ₹1 lakh for winning medals, it naturally hurts."

A Difficult Reality for Lesser-Known Sports

Unlike cricket or football, many Olympic and non-mainstream sports offer limited financial rewards.

For athletes competing in such disciplines, institutional support can make a huge difference.

Moumita believes that when athletes already sacrifice so much to pursue their sport, being denied recognition or financial assistance becomes particularly painful.

"There isn't much money in smaller sports anyway. When you're deprived even there, it's difficult to accept."

How Long Can She Continue?

Despite years of disappointment, Moumita has not yet left Bengal.

But her attachment to the state is increasingly being tested.

She admits that before every competition, the same question enters her mind:

"What is the point of competing for Bengal?"

It is a thought she never imagined having when she first started representing her state.

For now, she remains loyal to Bengal. Yet she openly acknowledges that she cannot predict the future.

"I don't know how long I can continue. I don't know when I might have to leave Bengal and represent another state."

Those words reflect not just the frustration of one athlete, but a broader concern faced by many competitors in less-publicized sports—athletes who bring medals and pride to their states, yet often feel forgotten once the applause fades.

For Moumita Mondal, the medals are real, the achievements are undeniable, but the recognition she seeks remains elusive.