Prologue : Sport brings billion people of us with diverse views & culture together on same platform. Sport promotes nationalism in amidst of current divisive politics. Sport is not bound by walls of religion, caste, etc. A glance at current scenario of sports which is a nation treasury in peril.
Uncrowned king of chess Vishwanath Anand has done it again. A splendid last round win with black pieces just like pulling of a last ball six. After his victory, I started a count of games in which India is in a position to fight for highest honor. Appalling it might be but number is singular. Even on including games like kabaddi, kho-kho & carroms. Being a billion, statistic not just an alarming but disgraceful to say least.
Reason for this as populous say professionalism and athleticism isn’t natural and doesn’t run through veins of Indian sport-people. This is just a symptom of grim situation of our sport affairs. When one looks at sports where we are able to come up with competitors over a period of time rather than a one-time wonders are chess, kabaddi, kho-kho, boxing, cricket to certain extent badminton. Rendezvous of games like chess, kabaddi, boxing with India goes back to medieval times. Back then it was used to muster their war strategies and rate their physical strength. One can safely assume that this sport has inherited us over centuries. What about cricket & badminton? Why do we have a reasonable success? Answer is crystal clear, how blatant we might be in our denial of it.
A middle class Indian family can afford a badminton racquet in comparison with tennis racquet. Even if it can, playgrounds are a rear feature in our cities and schools. Parents being blindfold of importance of sports try at best to avert children from playing. Sports is a culture long been on decline in our society. Earnest effort must be made to put forward sports as a viable option. No more can we afford economical background refuting one from pursuing sport as a career.
In right step forward Andhra Pradesh government passed a legislation saying a school would be recognized by government only if school has an area for play ground near by. But, this is just 1st step in right direction. It must be ensured schools have infrastructure and have sports as part of their academic calendar. Govt. has to ensure sufficient number of inter-school competitions during an academic year. Schools performance must be screened through-out year. Young talent if spotted must be provided with equipment and coaching. Cohesive effort between parents, schools & administrations is need of the hour. Revamp & reform the administration of sport authorities. People with positions have to owe responsibility. Delay in action would lead to irreparable damage to foundation of sport in our country.
Individual brilliance is like a moon in the vast black-ocean. It comforts us with its luminous. But, it’s the twinkling stars which give the midnight dark its beauty. Just like droplets of water are an essence for forming an angelic rainbow. It’s the adherence of glittering stars makes twilight majestic. Devoid of them magic bound dwindles away. Let us hail the King of 64 squares but not get carried away with his impeccable success.
UP NEXT : After couple of emotional blogs. Next one would be slightly different a short story ‘JOURNEY’
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