JOIN USIndia has been showcasing a noteworthy performance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with wrestlers, weightlifters and shooters grabbing most of the medals.
But when it comes to promoting sports other than cricket, unfortunately, much is left to be desired in this country. The call for a better infrastructure is loud and clear. Added to that, some of the hard-working athletes do not get the due they deserve. Students from the City are following the Commonwealth Games with much interest and are delighted about India’s achievements. But they also feel that much needs to be done in sports other than cricket.
Allowance that never reaches!
Rithika Perumal, a final-year degree student from Mount Carmel College, says, “I’m a sportsperson myself and I play basketball. I am part of the national team and we are entitled to a daily allowance. This hardly reaches us. But that is fine with us as we have the finances to get food during our camps and trainings. That is not the case with the sportsmen and women who come from rural places. These kind of issues exist in other sports and is one of the reasons why many sportsmen lag behind. In India, the importance given to one sport is extremely high when compared to others.”
Women neglected
Venetia Sharanya, a final-year science student from Mount Carmel College says, “The mentality of people is such that they have fixed opinions. This includes sports too. Too much value is given to cricket while other sports are neglected. Physical education is no more of prime importance. Women are totally neglected when it comes to sports. This puts many on the back foot even though they may be good. The window of opportunity doesn’t even exist for them. All said and done, it is encouraging to see many women overcoming hurdles and winning medals at Commonwealth Games.”
Stepmotherly treatment
Shreya A Nagesh, a final-year computer science student from BNMIT, says, “Commonwealth Games isn’t given much importance as other sport events. I hardly know who the gold medal winners from India are in this year’s Games. The information provided about these sportsmen and women are not enough. It is cricket which receives more prominence in the media. This is not the right approach and very disappointing. I personally feel every sport should be given equal importance and every player has a right to be praised when they excel in the game.”
Develop arenas
Geetanjali GK, a final year BA student from Mount Carmel College, says “It is absolutely clear that Indians don’t lack in talent when it comes to sports. It is purely that prominence is given to a different sport. The officials should concentrate a lot on other sports as well and give prime importance in developing facilties of international standards. This will help the athletes improve. It is not that we don’t have funds, it is not being utilised properly. This has affected the state of sports in our country.”
Sidelined efforts
Prerna, a final-year degree student from Mount Carmel College says, “In India, what sells the most is the masala brand, just like the movies. This is exactly why IPL is watched more than other sports. People do not seem to enjoy the way other sports are packaged and brought to them. Rural India, where most of these athletes come from, don’t have proper stadiums or platforms to nurture their talents. How can you except them to go to an international venue and perform?”
Playing politics
Kiran S, a first-year law student from KLE Law College says, “Politics is the main reason why some games get importance than the rest in this country. It is not that there are no funds allocated towards each sport, the fact is it is just not reaching where it should. There aren’t many venues and platforms that these athletes can perform with. In spite of it, these sportsmen have brought out their best in the Commonwealth Games. Sports should be brought under a independent body and politics should clearly not be a part of it.”
Unsung athletes
Mark Thompson, a final-year computer science student of St Josephs College of Arts and Science says, “Sportsmen representing India have many gold medals at Commonwealth Games but it is very depressing to see the achievements published only on memes in Facebook pages and not anywhere prominently. This has been by far the best performance by India in Commonwealth Games till today. However, the public is totally unaware of these sportsmen, except for a few who won medals the last time. More information should be provided on the ones who have excelled and brought laurels to the country in this year’s Commonwealth Games.”