We’re ready to host Olympics

Randhir Singh is one of those few sports administrators of the country who has been a top notch sportsperson himself. Of royal lineage from Patiala, he was India’s first ever gold medallist in shooting at the Bangkok Asian Games in 1978. Speaking to DNA, Randhir concedes that the mindset of administrators has to change if the country has to do better in top level competitions.

How do big events like the Commonwealth Games help Indian sport?
Competing at home has its advantages. You know the conditions, have a fair number of people who are backing you. It gives you an edge and the confidence to do well. Abroad, the conditions are alien and if you are doing well, at the most your whole contingent is watching you. Also, you get to construct top class stadia.

But do you think the infrastructure will be used well after the Games?
We will have to set up academies to make optimum use of the facilities. Unless these facilities are available for upcoming athletes, there is little use in investing so much money on them. We are planning towards this and will have things in place soon after the Commonwealth Games.

What about the infrastructure for games like rugby 7s? Is the investment worth it?
See, basically there are three games that are not so popular — lawn bowls, netball and rugby 7s. Lawn bowls (Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium) hardly needs a big area or infrastructure, the facility for netball (Thyagaraj Stadium) can be used for other sports as well, and so is the case with the rugby venue (Delhi University). You can even play cricket matches at the rugby venue. So these are not issues of concern.

Do you think the perception of Indian sport has changed or is it just the potential sponsors who are arousing interest in administrators abroad?
The perception of Indian sports has changed worldwide, especially with our economic might. People take us more seriously, but yes, the prospect of sponsorships are an attraction. They think of India as a country with great potential and as capable hosts of big events. May be even the Olympics!

So we are ready to host just about any event now?
Yes. Not many people would know that we are now set to host the Luso Fino (Portugese) Games in Goa in 2013. These Games involving former Portugal ruled countries will be unique, and there is also the possibility of organising a similar French (Franco Pan) Games in Pondicherry.

We have seen shooting and hockey coaches desert Indian teams over issues of contract. We have also had coaches like Bob Houghton (football) and Jose Brasa (hockey) lament the slow response of sports administrators here. Do you think we are ready for the demands of modern day sport?
We have to improve a lot in this regard and coaching is a big issue. We should have coaches on a long term basis, may be six to eight years. You can’t produce sportspersons in a shorter span of time. The contracts of six months and one year that we have been offering coaches all these years is passe. The coach should be able to cover at least two Olympic Games if he has to get results. And yes, sportspersons should not be pushing for other things to happen too. They should be concentrating on their sport.

But what needs to be done about this?
 We all have to change our mindset. The system has changed the world over and we must work on this. I think the Sports Authority of India (SAI) is trying to help. I have been watching their officials in meetings and feel they are very keen to improve. But yes, we have to change our cycle very fast, only then will things start happening.