Will you watch a state level sports match ahead of a movie? Even if you start to watch, you will be bored by the quality of play and change the channel in 10 minutes. The media follows the TRP. If it ain’t good, they don’t care.
There are enough State/national level competions going on. We don’t need them more. They don’t seem to be helping us in winning Olympic medals.
In my opinion, what we need are,
- world class facilities. By facilities I mean, infrastructure, resources, people (we need coaches, nutritionists, psychologists, masseuses and all kind of support staff). All A-level. World class. I read that Sushil Kumar was massaged by a wrestling federation executive because they didn’t have any support staff at the Olympics. How sad is that? The next Abhinav Bindra should be able to train in India instead of going to Germany.
After that,
- exposure to international quality. Arrange for more international meets, tours. Overseas players can come only if you have world class facilities. Our players need to see and be able to work on facilities in other countries, understand other players' work ethic, diet regimen and stuff. It comes only through exposure.
Also,
- Identity and groom the special talents.
Once you get the quality up, then more people will watch domestic competitions. Media coverage will follow. Money will pump in. It will all become a self-feeding positive cycle.
After all this happens, we will have top class athletes and there will be some chance of getting a few gold medals regularly starting from 2016. I don’t see them happening anytime soon.
All is good.
ReplyDeleteWhere is the money for this and how can anyone see a return of investment, if he invests in these?
If you say, Government has to take these, compare these to Government Schools.
Dude,
ReplyDeleteGovt. is bad at managing but only they can provide this much investment without looking for short term returns.
It should be govt. aided but privately managed by an autonomous board. See IITs.