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POLITICAL DIARY
Chak De India, Indeed!
MONEY MAKES TAMASHA OF SPORTS
By Poonam I Kaushish
New Delhi, May 02, 2008
So much for Chak de India! After the Shah Rukh Khan block
buster which eulogised hockey, our national game, to a winning
high of sportsmen spirit and national honour, comes a reality
check. The underhand diabolical parde ke peeche sordidness of
berths in teams being sold for a few rupees and more. That it
smacks of everything that is wrong with Indian sport.
Corruption, bribery, parochialism et al.
The recent most kissa being an exposure by a TV channel’s
sting operation of the Indian Hockey Federation’s Secretary K.
Jothikumaran taking money to induct a player into the national
team. Leading the newly-appointed Sports Minister MS Gill to
ask the Federation’s President KPS Gill to resign.
Odd as it may sound, but it took a simple sting to confirm
what has been an open secret for years. The grip of greed over
the game. Three years ago, a national selector and former
Indian captain, Aslam Sher Khan, quit over KPS Gill and his
cronies preparing a list of the team and then asking the
selectors to ratify it! Another hockey international, Gagan
Ajit Singh, alleged that complete unknowns were included in
the national team.
Any wonder then that for the first time India failed to
qualify for the Olympics. In the last two Olympics too, we
finished seventh. Worse, India could lose the chance to host
the 2010 Hockey World Cup if we don’t improve our performance.
Why only hockey? See how the IPL has converted the gentleman
game cricket into one big tamasha. Think of a fizzy cocktail
of superstars, business magnates, airline tycoons, glitterati
and chatteratti, razzmatazz entertainment topped by skimpily
clad cheerleaders with their pom-poms specially flow in from
the US. Never mind that it stokes the baser instincts of the
masses. Which has replaced not only the saas-bahu serials but
also Bollywood films in the TRP ratings. Clearly, instant
cricket never had it so good.
Raising a moot point: Is this what cricket is all about? Is
this what the future holds? Today it is cricket, tomorrow
hockey, football, tennis and so on. Will it stump sports for
ever? Arguably, the IPL has ‘globalised’ cricket. A heady mix
of cricketers crossing international boundaries. Showcasing
cross-cultural encounters with Australian captain Ricky
Ponting hugging former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly.
Something unimaginable two months ago when they accused each
other of unsporting behaviour during the Australia-India
matches.
Besides, it is providing an opportunity for Indian players to
watch, learn and play alongside some of international
cricket's hardest-working stars. Players like VVVS Laxman,
Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh are in addition getting an
opportunity to experience the responsibilities and pressures
of leadership. So what if monetary interests, rather than any
fondness for cricket drive the owners to gamble. After all it
is about developing the game and nurturing talent.
However, what happens to invoking the spirit of Mera Bharat
Mahan? Needless to say the IPL has come to symbolise some of
the worst features of nationalism. Wherein national rivalries
now stoke regional bias and fuel city-centric hooliganism.
Last week’s altercation between Mumbai Indians Captain
Harbhajan and Punjab Kings Sreesanth are clear signs of how
Team India compatriots are today’s arch rivals. Interspersed
with accusations and counter-accusations. So much for calling
it a gentleman’s game. A money-spinning machine is more apt.
In addition, isn’t it a strange site to see a crowd cheer two
Australians bowl out an Indian player. Already, fans are
hooting for the colour of a team’s dress rather than
cricketing skills. Many fear that the game is being undermined
at the national level thanks to the bucks. Players today might
be keener on playing for the IPL rather than for the country.
Not a few cricketers assert that the IPL is too hot to be
ignored no matter the national pride. Worse, it has resulted
in a moral debate. Parliament was rocked when political
leaders called the cheer leaders as "cricket's item numbers
worse than bar dancers" who are making a "mockery of cricket."
However, many viewers are perplexed. Which team do they root
for? Deccan Chargers with Andrew Symonds or Chennai Super
Kings with Dhoni? Who do they applaud? Australian Ricky
Ponting or our homegrown Banga bandhu Ganguly? It is kind of
absurd that we have Team India players like Sachin Tendulkar,
Rahul Dravid, VVVS Lakshman, Yuvraj Singh playing arch rivals
Happily, post the hockey fiasco and the IPL circus, Sports
Minister Gill, has declared that the sports scene was in for a
major overhaul. Towards that end he has put all sports
federations on notice: they would be held accountable for
their sport's performance. However, these are mere symptoms of
a rotten system. The malaise is deeper and needs a complete
overhaul.
One of the major problems is that we are not serious about
sports. We talk of sporting events as an aside. Nothing more
than a conversation point which sounds good. In keeping with
our herd mentality we follow the fads with the changing
season. Today cricket may be fashionable, tomorrow it may be
football.
The problem is compounded by total failure of sports
management system, leading to bad planning. Candidly lamented
Sports Minister Gill: “The culture of sports has not been
indicated in our youth. We have not prepared the country on
the importance of sports. Primary importance is given to
preparing the youth to earn a livelihood. Education is
tailor-made to emphasis studies as a stepping stone to a
career as an engineer, doctor, teacher etc.
“We need to offer sports as a career option. It teaches us to
be tolerant and inculcates a strong sense of nationalism.
Where talent, not terror is used to savour the fruits of
victory.” Brave words indeed. How? To make a start we have to
wipe the slate clean. Like elsewhere, we have to follow the
dictum of “catch-them-young”. A concept which is not new to
India. But was dumped for reasons best known to the
powers-that-be.
Leave alone training the youth, the coaches in India
themselves need to be trained to coach! Take, for example,
swimming. The Capital boasts of just one Olympic-size heated
pool which can be used in winters, the equipment is outdated,
touch-pads, basic requisite to clock swimmers are
non-existent. There are no sports doctors to minister ailments
or dieticians to guide eating habits. After 60 years, we still
have to come up with an advanced scientific academy of sports.
The million dollar question: How will we rescue sports, be it
hockey or cricket from the Octopus-like grip of money and
bribe? When will we pull up our socks? A beginning has to be
made. Sooner the better or else we will say indeed Chak De
India!---INFA
(Copyright India News & Feature Alliance)
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