For The Beautiful Game, A Life Of Hardship

Lack of support forces India’s women football players to the edge of survival

- Rahul Karmakar

Ringkhangsri Boro quit her job as a football coach to play for Assam at the ongoing 25th Senior Women’s National Football Championship at Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Siang district.

It wasn’t tough for the 32-year-old midfielder to take the decision. She is used to uncertainty and switching jobs after she was booted out of her home in Malmura Majgaon village in Assam’s Udalguri district in 2007, the year she cleared her Class 10 and made it to the State team for the nationals.

“That job ensured me a place to stay and some money. I will not get paid for playing in the nationals, but money cannot buy me the happiness of representing my State in the sport I love,” Ms. Boro said.

Ms. Boro’s story, unfortunately, is not unique.