Stop this indifference towards sportspersons

We cannot shortchange players and still expect them to excel in world class events

Choosing sports as a career option in India has many pitfalls. This is because the gap between success and failure is considerable. If you succeed, more often than not, there is no looking back. Winners are felicitated and champions are put on a pedestal. Failures are ignored. Worse, success often involves battling significant odds. It also requires intensive and often expensive training, not easily available to every sportsperson. Take the case of Olympian swimmer Sajan Prakash. HT reported that Prakash, the national record holder in the butterfly stroke, is considering auctioning his medals to finance his training. This is after he had to personally sponsor his participation in international events in Dubai and Singapore. One can only imagine the helplessness felt by the athlete.

There is a general, and unfortunate, indifference towards many sportspersons. Stories of how sportspersons are ill-treated and how talent is ignored do not reflect well on the sporting ambitions of any nation. Add to this bureaucratic red tape which prevents timely distribution of financial incentives. Expecting sportspersons to perform well in international arenas without backing them with world class facilities, training and exposure is foolish. Sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, an Olympic medallist himself, knows all these problems only too well. He has taken a slew of positive measures since assuming office, holding forth the hope that sportspersons finally have a friend in the ministry. The Khelo India programme, which will identify 1,000 promising sportspersons and provide an annual scholarship of ₹5 lakh for eight years, is an example of a shift in focus from infrastructure to the athlete. His promise to professionalise sports management and offer round-the-clock assistance to athletes could bring about a positive change.

But the experiences of Prakash and others show how far we have to go before podium finishes become a regular feature. The sports ministry’s new initiatives are encouraging but it is important that they are executed effectively and swiftly.