We will have yet another season of Indian Super League (ISL) , the pro kabadi league, new Pro wrestling League and also the Badminton league. They have surely garnered huge TRP’s and had large number of spectators attending the matches but the question is how much have they contributed to “Indian Sports”? The answer to this question is a big NO.
There are various reasons to why my answer or any other person closely following Indian sports (except Badminton in this context) will agree to a NO.Why is Badminton being excluded, is because badminton is a properly structured sport in India and lots of initiative have been taken to develop the game. Others? No again. There’s has been a misconception, that if a sport is popularised it will be developed and will trickle down the grassroots. Wait? Grassroots? Most of us don’t know that term. I will go to that later on.
Not all sport in our country is same as cricket. The other sports need not have a cash minting two-three months overly hyped celebrity funded league or so-called tournament. What we require is a properly structured grassroots program and organised competitive environment. Grassroots are the program which are undertaken for developing under-8’s to under under-13’s. Its a common knowledge not all sport person in India have got proper coaching till he/ she reached an age of 13-15 , which is way above of the grassroots program. The disadvantage they have to suffer( many will agree) is to face the competitive environment be it at the state level, district level , zonal or national level and the level of fitness when they gradually advance through various age groups. Also one of the major reason of our failure in sports is age fraud ( a separate post will be dedicated to it).
How many of us know that India has a football league other than the Indian Super League: it goes by the name of I-league. Not many know about that.Why? No celebrities??No big names? My verdict: I-league has failed to attract the children to make football a potential sporting career. Hence, reason of its slow pace and low attendance. Same is the case is with other sports. In India , parents think fifty times before letting their children join a coaching academy (read sports academy). The reason being: a proper roadmap is not shown by the authorities. While, fitness and the amount the child can achieve from various coaching programs depends on the child him/herself. To attract the sport is the sole responsibilty of the authorities.
To develop a sport , big tournaments are not required. Sure they will attract a lot of audiences but also should have a road map to develop the interest among the children. Recently, I overheard a lady who wants her children to study in an only academic background school. Now,this “only academic” mindset should be eliminated. Not all children can become sportstars, not everyone can become researchers/scientists as well. Also, we are only taught to do jobs since our childhood. Not, make something of our own or do something of our own. I will not go into the those in this post.
Most amount of care in sports education should be taken. Proper diet should be prescribed and should be taught in a routine. Children should be inspired to adopt a sport.But , we are inspired/ inspire to get admission into an IIT/AIIMS and later do a good job with hefty salaries. That is all right, acceptable we need doctor’s and engineers. But,through sports we can actually judge the character of a person and overall a country. Let us set long term goals in developing a sport rather than have a short tournament.
My main aim in this post was to highlight our country’s sports. We shall talk more about it in successive posts.
(picture courtesy : Sportskeeda)
Author : Gaurav Sonowal (sonogaurav94.wordpress.com)
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