Rajendra Sajwan
Of late, the government has taken a welcome step by increasing the salaries of the trainers and support staff. The assistance given for national and international events has also been increased significantly. Since the government intends to make India a sports superpower by the 2028 Olympics, it is also necessary to encourage players, coaches and all sports related units. But the question arises whether by increasing the salary and providing facilities, we will be able to produce champion players?
The biggest complaint of Indian trainers and Guru Khalifa has been that they do not get enough respect. On the one hand, the government distributes Dronacharya and other national awards to him, and on the other hand he is humiliated by a foreign coach sitting on his head. It is not enough just to pay one to three lakhs to the national coach. The complaint of most coaches is that the government and sports federations underestimate them in comparison to foreign coaches.
Increasing the support for national and international events is a welcome step so that the sports federations and their state units can organize better but how many sports federations are there in the country which conduct national championships of different age groups with utmost sincerity and honesty? The condition of most federations is that their sub-junior, junior and senior events are not organized every year. They have nothing to do with sports and players. Misuse of the game’s share amount has been his character. The condition of most of the sports federations is that the officials in high positions collude with the ministry and the SAI to steal the players’ share.
If a cursory look at Indian sports is taken, then most of the sports which are supported by the government are not performing their duties honestly. A survey has revealed that except for ten to twelve sports, the strife is at its peak and the countrymen are spending their blood and sweat money on their fun. Otherwise, what is the reason that except for wrestling, hockey, badminton, boxing, athletic, weightlifting and a few other sports, Indian players have been making trouble. Especially, the condition of all team sports is very bad. As a result, Asian Games and Olympic medals in sports such as football, volleyball, basketball, handball are constantly going away.
Many former players and coaches are asking the government that what is the benefit of more kindness over foreign coaches? On one hand, Dronacharya awards are being wasted and on the other hand, our own coaches who have received the honor are not able to do good for Indian sports. If India really wants to do something big in sports, then it will be possible only by fixing the accountability of the coaches, sports ministry and SAI officials. Otherwise, hardly anything can be achieved by increasing the salary and facilities.