Poor condition of sports in India

The problems the sports persons encounter in the path towards excellence are plenty and only the people who go into the depth would be able to fathom the reasons.

Sports does not get enough attention; barring cricket,other games neglected. Dismal performances on world stage. Not taken as a career.

Reasons: In other countries opportunity to select any sport as a choice of career and even discontinue higher education. The welfare policies of those governments help make such choices. Parents in India discourage their children from continuing their studies as there is no guarantee of earning a livelihood. Abroad there are excellent facilities for all sports; better infrastructure. In India sports ranked below academics,seen more as a hobby,not integrated with formal education.Unlike America where most of the parents make it a point to attend a basketball game or a soccer match of their children,most parent in India try to discourage children from taking sports too seriously. Lack of funds and support from government is a chief cause.there are many who make it to the competitions but fail to go further level because of lack of government aid and cooperation. There are more 'officials'and politicians in the selection committees than veteran sports persons and there are some prejudices which are always at work-corruption.

India turned in its best ever performance at the most recent Asian games,winning 64 medals,including a record of 14 gold medals. It also amassed an unprecedented 101 medals in commonwealth games,behind only Australia and England. Individual successes like that of Bindra, who ended India's individual Olympic gold medal drought in Beijing in 2008, have been catalysts for change.This can be solved by providing better facilities,better equipment,better funds with a better attitude.

A holistic approach towards development taking into account the heath, recreational,social and economic benefits. Not only does it offer a chance fostering national pride but also helps in developing a team spirit that brings together people from different communities and strata's of society,thus succeeds in building a high level of tolerance and understanding. Concrete steps to improve the image of Indian sports from its abysmal status need to be undertaken.fb,com