History was made when, for the first time, the Indian women's hockey team struck gold in the Asian Games. After tears of pride that rolled down these sportswomen's eyes when they stood on the podium, the national anthem echoing everywhere, the flag fluttering high above, it was tears of humiliation and distress all the way.

Namrata says: "We were thrilled to bring home the gold but India cared two hoots for us after that. No arrangements were made for us to go back home. I called my parents in Pune and told them I was coming by the Jammu Tavi Jhelum Express in an unreserved compartment and that they should look out for me at the Pune station."

When she got on tothe train at Delhi, she could not find a seat in the unreserved compartment. A concerned middle-aged man took pity on Namrata who still had the medal round her neck. He took one look at the glittering thing and offered her his seat.

And then, at the Pune station, Namrata says, "there were just four or five of my family members. Otherwise, not even a dog was around to know that two gold medallists had arrived in their hometown. And of course, no congratulatory messages from the Prime Minister, Chief Minister or even from the mayor of Pune!"

Her arrival in Pune was followed by chota mota clubs in Pune felicitating her. "It really hurt," say a bitter Namrata.

After a couple of months, in December 1982, Namrata received a letter from the sports ministry inviting her to participate in the Republic Day parade, 1983. Says Namrata, "All the medal winners marched along but that's it, we were not even honoured."

More agony followed. "The Government of Maharshtra announced a prize of one lakh rupees forevery gold medalist of the Asian Games. But when I approached the Directorate of Sports in Pune, the official told me that since there are too many medalists from the State, it was not possible to give the one lakh rupees. Instead they asked me to settle for Rs 25,000. When I tried to argue, they said that `if you want to take it, it is fine, otherwise you can forget about it.' I had no choice but to accept the Rs 25,000 which came to me after one year."

Banking on her good performance which she put up for the country, Namrata's chances for a government job seemed bright but nothing came by. She reveals, "I applied to various private firms in Pune but they firmly told me that if they take me in, it will set a precedence and many more hockey players would knock on their doors. They said they were not interested in hockey and preferred individual sportsmen instead."

"At the end of the day you feel frustrated that all the sweat and blood is not acknowledged. I have spent my prime years, sweating it out tobring glory to the nation but what is the use. Sportspersons other than cricketers are treated like dirt in this country and then the officials expect us to perform well. There's nothing they do for us. During the Delhi Asiad a Japanese firm had sponsored or outfits. Otherwise, I don't recall a single instance when I interacted with officials and politicians and felt happy or alive. It was always begging and pleading for your own rights."

Even for the India Camp where probables came for national selections, "it is my parents who sponsored my trips. They paid for everything - for my travel to the camp, and also for my stay. Thank God we were well off, we could afford it, otherwise the concerned officials and politicians just don't care," a heartbroken Namrata signs off in despair.