‘Only sports policy can ensure any development’
Even before UP sports minister Chetan Chauhan, also a former Indian cricketer, could meet the state sports associations and federations for the development of sports in the state, the Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association(UPOA) has criticised the Yogi government for ‘not having a concrete planning for any positive development’.
The UPOA, which has been fighting against all odd for the development of sports and sportspersons in the state for the last 30 years, firmly believes that without having a sports policy in the state no development is possible and no change in this perspective is likely in near future.
“What we need is a sports policy, which we don’t have ever since the Independence and without having one no development is possible,” UPOA’s secretary-general Anandeshwar Pandey told HT on Friday.
“Sports system in the state is obsolete and I don’t think that the government’s plan to have five medals at the Olympics in the next five years is possible at all.”
“Government’s agency for the sports development, the UP Sports Directorate, has no power to take a decision as all powers are restricted to government machinery and here people are bound to work like puppets,” said Pandey.
“Neither have we an adequate coaching system nor the world class infrastructure. So expecting UP sports doing something amazing at the world level in the next 10 years is impossible,” he said.
He, however, claimed that achievements of UP sportspersons in the last 20 years, if any, are purely the achievements of individuals’ ability. “Do we have even a single coach (in the state) who can produce an international sportspersons? Our sports hostels across the state have become ‘dharmshalas’ and officials responsible for the development of sports are busy focusing on constructions works of stadiums as it gives them financial benefits,” Pandey said.
Pandey, who also happens to be the secretary-general of Handball Federation of India, had helped UP win the hosting rights of the National Games in 2005, by using his clout as an executive member in the Indian Olympic Association then.
“The conduct of the National Games then could have changed the fortunes of sports and the sportspersons in the state but some opportunists didn’t let it happen.”
Pandey, who has been named as the IOA’s advisor for the next National Games, also criticised the sports directorate’s system of reservations in the appointment of ad hoc coaches. He wants that coaches should be appointed on the basis of their experience and knowledge.
“What happens when you have inferior quality coaches? It only helps corruption grow in the name of coaching,” he said.
“We don’t have even a single international stadium or a multipurpose hall where we can conduct big events. Most of the multipurpose halls and such centres across the state have become the place for entertainment of big people, including district magistrate etc,” Pandey alleged.
“Look at the only international pool here in Lucknow where even after spending several crore rupees the all-weather system is yet not operational. When things are like this under the very nose of the government so one can gauge about the rest of the state,” said Pandey who claimed that sports associations and federations were fulfilling their responsibilities with honesty and dedication.