Come Olympics or the Football World Cup, there is no cheer for the Indian sports fan. At the end of the event,
Here, it is opportune to examine some of the reasons which have contributed to this state of affairs. Lack of adequate facilities in the smaller towns and villages as compared to cities are a major factor. It is not without reason that till recently, most cricketers and other sportsmen of note came from metros like Mumbai, Chennai,
college managements in promoting sports in their institutions are also lack luster. It is worthwhile to take a note of the observation by the Union Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry and the University Grants Commission, "Of the 800 million youth in the country, 700 million have no or marginal access to sports and games facilities-there is a lack of adequate effort to spot and nurture talent from an early stage." The Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar has remarked that " in the international arena,
The huge importance given to cricket by the media and the amount of revenue which is generated from the game has also resulted in most of the support from corporate bodies going to cricket. Other sports have to depend on the government for assistance. In recent years, there have been good performances by Indians in other sporting events like tennis, boxing, shooting and chess. However, cricket still rules the roost.
It is a common sight in
This state of affairs can certainly be set right. Sporting facilities such as cricket grounds, football stadiums, badminton courts, table tennis courts, swimming pools, and athletic tracks should be constructed all over the country, including rural areas. Of course, this will entail a lot of expenditure, and this has to be sourced partly from the corporate sector. Scouts from national sporting bodies should be sent across the length and breadth of the country to spot and nurture talent from early stages. Coaching facilities at reasonable rates should also be made available everywhere. Here, the example of
who provide coaching in different sporting activities in this city. There is a big market for providing coaching facilities, training and in holding major sporting events, which is yet to be tapped and this opportunity should be seized by the corporate sector. Parents, too, should provide all necessary support to children who show promise in sports.