JOIN USThe Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Thusrday made it clear that players will have to make national duty their top priority if they wish to receive monitory assistance from it.
The ministry has written to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and National Sports Federations (NSFs) to “curb the tendency amongst sportspersons for giving preference to playing in prize money tournaments rather than in tournaments where India participates for medals rather than cash awards. “
In fact, the ministry has chalked out a list of athletes who have skipped national duty in the past.
“In a communication sent to DG, SAI and Presidents/Secretary Generals of all recognised National Sports Federations, the ministry has noticed that sportspersons, belonging to various sports disciplines prefer to play in prize money tournaments and avoid playing in tournaments where India as a team participates for medals rather than cash awards,” a ministry statement said.
Sports Secretary PK Deb said the ministry was “concerned” at this trend. “Therefore, we have asked the federations to inform the players that we will block them out from funding in the future if they make themselves unavailable for the country,” Deb told Deccan Herald.
The Ministry has also asked the NSFs to give “wide publicity to these instructions” and take necessary steps to ensure compliance.
“If there are specific exigencies because of which they are unable to play, this should be verified by the concerned NSF which thereupon can make an exception at their discretion.”
Sports Authority of India (SAI) Director General Jiji Thomson said they had asked the NSFs to give them a list of probables for the next international event — the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
“We are closely monitoring the athletes, they need to understand country comes first especially when the ministry is paying for the training and exposure trips.”
Earlier this year, top tennis players of the country had boycotted the Davis Cup tie against Korea over their differences with All Indian Tennis Association (AITA). It was learnt that ministry at that time was peeved at their decision not to turn out for the country. Though it could not intervene in the affairs of the NSF, the ministry was in touch with AITA officials and promised to take measures in the future.