The Enigma of Indian Sports
A country soon to be the most populous in the world, has not been able to produce a single gold medal wining athlete at the world stage, it's an issue that puzzles not just Indians but people world wide. How is it, that over the years, we have not won even one individual Gold medal at the Olympics which is considered the ultimate in competition ? The theory why Americans win a lot of medals, that I had once read, was because of the background of the Afro-Americans, from the days of slavery to the present day, this particular community has struggled to survive and in the process their bodies have acquired those qualities which make them the top sports personalities in America and in the world, but what about the white natives and the Europeans, the whites did not have to struggle to survive, so how come they have produced winners, and now out of the blues the Chinese have been giving the others a run for their money, whereas we Indians have failed to make our mark. Is it our primordial Indian genes ? Is it our non-nutritional diet ? Or is it the fault of the sports governing authorities in India ? I am sure people will have their own takes on this. The Hockey India saga, which was the news of the nation for the last few days, does go to show, that the only game that India ruled the world once, is indeed in dire straits. I still remember how proud I was to have held the stick for the first time as a seven year old at the hockey ground where Wankedee stands today, those days as I remember from the BHA to the University stadium was one full stretch of natural grass, where hockey was played from early morning to late evening, today has any one seen people play hockey on open grounds ? Unfortunately that same year I had to leave Bombay to enroll myself at Loyola, Goa, but my love for the game did not diminish and was proud to be the captain of the School team some years later. Back in Bombay, during my college days I had the privilege of watch all the then Indian greats play, like Ajit Pal Singh, Surjit Singh, the pair of Govinda and Ashok Kumar, Zaffer Iqbal, Melwyn Fernandes, Aslam Sher Khan and not forgetting, the handsome Cedric Pereira and Bobby Claudius who unfortunately died very young in an accident, to name a few, I made it a point to be present at ever match played at BHA or at the Bombay Gymkhana. Those days at the pinnacle of glory, these along with a host of others had made every Indians proud by their achievements. Over the last two decades, the standard of Indian hockey has been getting from bad to worse, and today we witnessed the ignominy of the fiasco between the players and the Hockey India body. Who is to be blamed ? I am sure the sports body, that does not respect the players and does not adhere to it's promises, has no right to be a sports body. The worst crime is that the players were made to look the victims, putting money before nation, why did not the sports body put the nation before money and pay the players their dues ? The players had not asked something new or astronomical, they have been demanding what's due to them, that was promised to them way back, why do they promise, if they cannot fulfill them in the first place ? Mismanagement is the cause of lack of funds and I am sure the players are not to be blamed for that. It was very good to see a lot of celebrities and associations trying to help the cause of Indian hockey today and hope they will continue to do so as and when required to help take Indian hockey back to it's old glory. Today there is too much time, money and coverage given to Cricket, not that I am against cricket, I do love the game as well, but in all this, other sports have suffered but none as badly as hockey. Why cannot BCCI divert it's massive funds to develop other sports in the country ? It is good to see sponsors taking up hockey and boxing, I do hope and pray other sports too will be blessed by Institutional sponsors to boost up our chances to produce medal winning athletes. Our sports bodies require specific intonation which only professionals can bring about, and not politicians or their bureaucrats and to improve our sports standard we should always strive hard and keep politics and politicians out of our sports. Freddy Agnelo Fernandes -------------------------------------------------------- The content of this electronic communication is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and any others who are specifically authorized to receive it. It may contain confidential or legally privileged information. 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