Govt wakes up only to major games

ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE GOVT SEEING MEDALS AS A FEEL GOOD FACTOR, BUT DOING LITTLE TO PROMOTE SPORTS AND PUT TIGHTER MONITORING SYSTEMS IN PLACE.

The sports ministry and the country’s administrators running the National Sports Federations (NSFs), it seems, only wake up when a major event like the Asian Games or the Olympics arrives. Otherwise, the issue of inculcating sports culture among India’s youth takes a back seat.

While there is focus on cricket 365 days, it’s sorely missing in Olympic disciplines, showing a lack of ambition to excel in major events. As a result, barring the odd good performance, the show by top athletes is ordinary. The absence of precise preparation in a world where leading sports nations leave little to chance has haunted India for decades, but little is done to address that.

On Monday, sports minister Vijay Goel held a meeting with stakeholders to review the preparation for the 2018 Commonwealth and Asian Games. A government observer said there werediscussionsandrecommendations, but none knew how much progress has been made to improve past performances. “It is doubtful if things are moving at a fast pace on the ground,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

There are several issues, including doping, that have hampered Indian sports. The Rio Olympics contingent suffered a setback as two leading athletes – shot-putter Inderjeet Singh and wrestler Narsingh Yadav -- failed dope tests. Sprinter Dharambir Singh too was caught for doping.

Yadav was considered a medal prospect in men’s 74kg freestyle event. Despite returning a positive test, the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) gave him a clean chit, but the Court of Arbitration for Sports ruled against him and he wasn’t allowed to compete in Rio.

Another problem is the government seeing medals as a feel good factor, but doing little to promote sports and put tighter monitoring systems in place.

This despite the passion Indians have for sports, seen during Olympics, World Cups or even a Kolkata football derby. Road running culture has boomed and cycling is rapidly growing.

The sports ministry sent more than 100 athletes to Rio, but managed just two medals. Barring marathon runners T Gopi and Kheta Ram, and woman steeplechase runner Lalita Babar, others failed to repeat their home performances.

Babar set a national record of 9 minutes, 19.76 seconds to reach the final, eventually finishing tenth.

CK Valson, secretary general, Athletics Federation of India (AFI) said: “We’ve been addressing the issue of peaking at the wrong time. Hopefully, we can deliver the goods in the next major events,” he said.