Sports sector must be freed from the shackles of politics

 

The sports sector must be freed from the shackles of politics

While winning 7 medals, including a gold, at the Tokyo Olympics and making a comeback in hockey is a blessing in disguise, but the infiltration of politicians in the sports associations  and years of such practices will, in all means ,adversely affect  sports and games in the years to come. Organizations and institutions in the field of sports should be led by those in the field themselves.

 At the same time, there is a need to provide world-class coaches and ensure international training. Instead of supporting the sportsperson just a few years before the International events , the government should adopt a mechanism  to find the talents at the early stages of their development and to adopt them and give training on an international standard is essential. The interest shown by the Orissa Chief Minister and Government in hockey is commendable. And it worked. After 1980, India won the hockey title once again.

It is also important to make  sports and games  a lifestyle of all citizens. It is  important for a healthy society. It seems that the new education policy will help to rid the children of the culture of bookworms in order to get higher employment opportunities. But , at the same time , many unpleasant reports  of political interference are constantly coming out. The move to harass Parvez Rasool, known as the Venus star of Kashmir cricket, is the latest. The BCCI's recently formed subcommittee is reportedly looking into whether Rasool can be nailed. The committee is headed by Brigadier Anil Gupta, a BJP spokesperson. Another member is BJP leader Sunil Sethi and the third is former cricketer Mithun Manhas. It is imperative that Government should  clean up organizations by eliminating politicians who are content to mentally abuse players in this way.