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Planning to get married in Goa? www.weddingsetcgoa.com Making your 'dream wedding' possible ------------------------------------------------------------------------ On the National TV Channels, it was heartbreaking to watch P.T. Usha, an athlete who has brought so many laurels to our Country, in literal tears over the substandard treatment that was meted out to her at the National Athletics meet it Bhopal. The sprint queen rightly opined, "If I get this type of treatment, you can imagine what other athletes get.” P T Usha probably gave the fitting answer to the question that is frequently posed in Indian Sporting circles. Why do we, a nation in excess of 100 Crore people, fail to produce great champions? What is it that ails Indian sport? A few years back, members of our badminton Club had the opportunity to interact with Dhanraj Pillai when he was down in Goa to inaugurate a sports showroom. While discussing about sports in general and hockey in particular, the ace hockey player gave his own compelling reasons for India’s demise in hockey in the International sporting arena. He pinned the principle reason to the negative role played by the administrators, how they would often treat the players in a step- motherly fashion. An emotionally charged Dhanraj narrated the woeful tale of how the ‘Indian Hockey Federation’ had rewarded the Players of the Indian hockey Team when they had won the Asian Gold after a gap of 32 years by dropping 6 of them. The P T Usha incident should serve as an eye-opener, time for the Sports Ministry to get its act in order. If our achievement in sports is negligible, one of the reasons is the role played by our administrators, the people heading the various Associations. While our officials travel and live "Five Star", those who endure pain and give their sweat, blood and tears on the fields often receive harsh treatment, at times even made to foot their own bills. It goes without saying that Sport in India is just not administered properly. There is a virtual lack of accountability in almost all our Sports Associations. Those in power, continue being in power, with little or no results to show while the Government keeps giving funds. Elections are a farce. Nobody wants to be held responsible. For many, it is the lust for power, for others the opportunity to "make hay while the sun shines". Is there a lack of talent in our country? Certainly not! A Nation that can produce outstanding sportspersons like Saina, Anand, Advani and Bindra can produce, with proper support, thousands more. All we need is administrators who have passion for the game, who will work and toil as hard as our sportspersons. Let there be more accountability, those who cannot produce results must go! Cheers, Sandeep
