They run. We cheer. They fall. We ignore.
Story of Indian athletes can be summed up in not more than 10 words. While the whole world is geared up for the Rio Olympics 2016, our Indian athletes find it even difficult to qualify for the same. Nobody even cares to notice. It has just become a habit. We ignore.
While all the other sportsmen are getting the most basic necessities, our athletes even find it difficult to earn themselves bread and butter on a daily basis. There are many athletes who sell their medals to earn some penny. Our officials seem to be so negligent that they can’t see these gems.
India has triumphed and has created a niche for itself in almost every sport, let it be tennis, badminton, hockey or even archery. It can even excel in athletics, if given more attention. Not every athlete is a born Milkha Singh. But not every athlete is meant to be ignored.
When your passion and your profession are same, no day is a work day, what comes out is true from heart. Such is for the sportsmen in India. Not everyone is lucky to get into international level of sports except for the exceptionally talented ones. They struggle; they train for almost 16 hours a day, sacrificing all they have, their job, their family, time, everything. They train with the most basic equipment’s with just one aim: that is to win. Not once do they think of losing and not only do they think of winning for themselves, but also showing the world where India lies on the global map.
Even after winning they struggle. And now they struggle for the basic needs that the government had once promised to give.
The average sports budget is considered to be Rs. 917.62 crore. The number seems great to look at, but how much do you think is utilized and how much is granted in the name of sports?
Well, only the government can answer such questions with great tact.
Cricketers these days are less of sportsmen and more of celebrity, the reason being our media which has been constantly focusing their cameras in the career as well as personal life. When we switch channels on our television and jump to sports, don’t be surprised if you have got 7 out of 10 channels telecasting cricket on repeat.
When a kid begins to walk and play, we gift him a bat and a ball. Well, why not boxing gloves or a badminton racket or a tennis racket? Sitting at home, we comment on the way the athletes play: good or bad. But no one ever notices the way they play with the most basic facilities. That is what we have been following since years and continue to do so. Each one of us needs to think out of the box.
Sushil Kumar, an Indian freestyler wrestler, started training when he was a kid and has named bronze and silver medals after him in the Olympics.
Paan Singh Tomar, a national champion for seven years in steeple chasing turned out to be a dacoit after retirement. He was not only an athlete but also an army subedar. After killing a local person in his village, the association just ignored his case and left him at a place where he was.
Some athletes who struggle to survive are here:
- Rishu Mittal- a state level gold medalist boxer who now works as a maid. She stopped preparing for the nationals due to economic conditions.
- Sita Sahu- She made India proud by winning two bronze medals at the Athens Special Olympic. However, she was forced to sell gol gappas with her mother in order to meet the daily needs.
- Kamal Kumar-He won two gold medals at national level for boxing, now works as a garbage collector.
- Amarinder Singh- He was presented with Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award in 2013 – the highest sports honor in New Delhi. He now earns money by running a roadside eatery in New Delhi.
Few examples cannot define the struggle of all, it can just be introduced. The Olympics are coming. Let’s at least try to make sure that our athletes are taken seriously before they go to Rio, not only after they win something.
