Like people in all spheres of life, sportspersons too are struggling to find a foothold back in the world devastated by the pandemic.

Training facilities are yet to open, financial incentives missing and motivation is lacking.

The Sports Development Committee of The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry has stepped in with an initiative to help sportspersons financially.

To that end, the Bengal Chamber organised a virtual musical programme — ‘Music for a Mission’ — on Friday to help raise money with eminent singers Srikanta Acharya, Lopamudra Mitra, Jayati Chakraborty and percussionist Pandit Tanmoy Bose supporting the cause with their participation.

The first beneficiary is paddler Swastika Ghosh, the current world No. 5 in the Under-18 category, who is getting a cheque of Rs 1 lakh from the committee.

“The shutdown has affected my practice,” Swastika, a resident of Navi Mumbai, told The Telegraph. “My father, who is also my coach at the Kharghar Table Tennis Academy where I train, has been struggling financially.”

“I am unable to provide her with the diet that she requires to train for international meets,” father Sandeep added.

Her eyes on the Junior World Championship in Portugal in December, the money comes as a big relief for the family.