GenNextEdit: When will India get another Abhinav Bindra or PV Sindhu?

India has won only one gold medal since the 1980 Moscow Olympics. The country with the second highest population and the largest youth population in the world remains far behind when it comes to sports. Our government releases massive funds every year for development of sports, clubs and upliftment of sportspersons. Are all the funds that are disbursed in the name of sports actually reaching the right people? During big tournaments like Olympics, Commonwealth Games and all World Cups, we all are hooked to the medal tally or the results of the tournament. But we are disappointed to see only a handful of medals, if at all, coming to our homeland. 

Bollywood has lately realised the importance of depicting the struggle and the journey of Indian sportstars. Why have so many directors started opting for biopics of people from the sports arena? That is because the story and life journey of these people are very different and extraordinary. It has a message and a fact about the problems they face. From MS Dhoni to Mary Kom, from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag to the latest blockbuster Dangal, all these movies have been a hit at the box office for one reason: the universal story of a journey from being a nobody to making his or her country proud. Thank you Bollywood for making us aware about the achievements of players like Geeta, Milkha, Mary Kom and so many others. Thank you for highlighting sports like wrestling, boxing and athletics rather than cricket alone. Audiences have loved these new kinds of real stories. But has anyone thought of the problems and hurdles sportspersons face?

Every child sees a dream of pursuing their career in sports. Some of them want to be like Sachin Tendulkar while others adore Roger Federer or Saina Nehwal or Usain Bolt. But before they even think of working on their dreams, they are told that ‘sports will never give them money’ or ‘there is no secure future in making a career in sports’. If young children are not given proper guidance and support in their childhood, how will India get another Virat Kohli or Sania Mirza? Why are Indian parents so dismissive about their child making a career in sports? Why is cricket the only sport that has so much popularity in India? Answer: our media for long highlighted only one sport and its players. Our government only appreciates the ones who bring medals for the country rather than all of the ones who are fighting to make their country’s flag rise higher. 

Government funds and facilities are not reaching the right people. Even Indian parents who would want their child to work on his or her talent and dreams cannot find the right coach and training centres. Though metropolitan cities have many sports clubs and gymkhanas with top-class facilities, has anyone wondered about the fees and membership charges these clubs impose? Even a middle-class family will have to think twice before sending their child to such expensive training centres. For this reason, many Indian parents give up the little hope they had of letting their child make a career in sports. Without proper coaching and training, even extraordinary talent has its limits. 

Many government sports centres like SAI sports hostels are in bad condition without adequate coaches, training facilities, kitchens or support staff. Corruption can be one of the reasons that the funds do not reach the right people. The players are not supported by the government and are not provided with the basic facilities, either. The government should motivate the players by providing more benefits so that they are not forced to choose academics over sports. Inter-school, inter-university matches and such other tournaments for school and college students should be organised in such a way that students can participate without disrupting their studies. It’s high time that the citizens of India realise what is lacking. It is unacceptable that a country with 1.252 billion people gets only four or five medals at the Olympics.

Send your edits to gennextedit@dnaindia.net