Sports scenario in India

Normally sports news finds their place in the last pages of news paper or last part of a news bulletin. Occasionally it makes headlines when Indian cricket team wins any crucial match (as their performance is always inconsistence) or any miracle happens in other sporting events. But in the last few months; sports related news are making headlines for all wrong reasons in our country. It prompted me to write this piece.
Though I am writing this sports related article, at the very outset I want to make it clear that I am not a sports person nor I have any knowledge about sports. During my school days I had heard only few sports persons’ name like- Dhyan Chand, P T Usha, Milkha Singh, Viswanatha Anand, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and then emerging Sachin Tendulkar. As there were no kids of my age in my neighborhood I developed liking towards books and music. Later I had to read sports news only for various examinations. Only thing related to game I am interested is playing cards and in rainy days I feel nostalgic as it reminds me those college days when we friends spent afternoons playing it. So this piece is just some thoughts from a common man’s perspective.
It is really a matter of shame that in a country of billion plus population, we have very few sportspersons of international standard. More than sporting achievements we saw all sorts of scams – corruption, harassment of female players, doping by athletes – in the recent past.
Once upon a time hockey brought laurels for country. But Indian team failed to qualify for last Olympics. Recently sexual harassment allegation by women hockey players brought more shame to the sport. I do not know why hockey was decided to be our national sport and do we really need anything to be called as national sports. In our country everybody is a cricket expert and our cricketing body is the richest in world. But the performance of our team is not consistent though there are many individual records are held by Indians. Income of the cricketing body has increased as scope for advertisement in cricket is more in comparison to other sports and our country has a vast population. I do not think concerned sports body has much role in it. Rather this greed led to the creation of IPL and all sorts of scandals. It is better not to talk about football. But we have innovative ideas for solace- inviting weaker teams than Indian team for Nehru cup and congratulate ourselves on winning that. I do not know what is going on in athletics front. Our hopes for medals in various events rest on shooters. We can expect from our boxers, wrestlers, tennis and badminton players also.
Regarding organizing major sporting events like Asiad games, Commonwealth games and Olympics- should we organize these events? I know those who support for organizing these events always advocate that it will enhance the image of our country and will increase tourism. I am not good in cost- benefit analysis. What I firmly believe is that we can only save the amount spent on our large contingent if we host any major event. Otherwise arguments like increase in tourism, image of the country are only false claims if we compare with the amount invested in organizing such events.
Everybody knows where the problem lies. In our country politicians have occupied positions in all sports bodies. Government provides grant to these bodies but they are not accountable to anybody. So for improvement in sports in our country reform in the sporting bodies is required first- then everything will fall in place.