Oct 31, 2001 11:21 AM
2025 Views
(Updated Oct 31, 2001 11:26 AM)
This is an article which appeared in a newspaper today -
'' The fate of the Indian team for the world weightlifting championships, startng in Turkey on Sunday, hangs in balance with the sports ministry not showing much interest in paying the fine for the positive drug test of Kunjarani Devi. India cannot participate in the tournament till the fine of 1200$ slapped on Kunajarani Devi after she tested positive for a banned drug, is paid to the International Weightlifting Federation.''
There is only one word that can describe the above, SHOCKING ! Well, How can the sports ministry compromise on the fate of the other Weightlifters by not a paying a mere $1200. This is unpardonable. This just shows how incompetent and insensitive they are.
This just goes to show that why a country of One billion has produced only two real world champions, i.e , Geet Sethi in billiards and Anand in chess. There is just no encouragement given to sports in this country. Not even 0.5 % of our budget is alloted to sports whereas it is the region of 3-4% in countries like US and Germany. Also the recent case of the talented Gurcharan Das is a testimony to the incompetent nature of this ministry. He has vowed never to play for his country again.
Another incident which can be recalled - After the indian team won the world junior championships in hockey, This was what KPS Gill , the head of the Indian Hockey Federation, had to say - '' I guess the boys can have some extra beer now ! ''. Well nothing to discuss there. I guess you can understand that!
If we have a few good sportsmen, no thanks should be give to the sports ministry. We should thank the private sponsors. Where would the gifted Narain Karthikeyan (on whom MS member Ashford wrote a review recently) be without JK tyres and Kingfisher. Leander Paes and Bhupathi have become a great team not because of the sports ministry but have become so in spite of it.
Well another point I would like to add is that in spite of all the allegation the Board of Cricket Control Of India has done a good job. They have built up a ''cool'' (forgive the silly word but it is appropriate) image of cricket by organising tournaments and sending the team overseas for matches. This is what the other federations and the sports ministry should try to emulate rather than destroy the futures of probable world beaters.
One of shorter review, but I just wanted people to know what kind of sports ministry we have !
