SPORTS FOR NATIONAL INTEGRETY

Many have seen the match between Pan American champion Emileo and Indian Boxer Bijendra on Friday afternoon. Even if they do not know what is boxing and who is Bijender. But they watch and wish Vijender for a win. This scene is seen not only in Delhi, Haryna or only in the sports men House and clubs but in every corner of the country which reflects how sports bring National integrity and harmony. But we never care for this dormant objective of sports at Olympics, never want to promote them. And the result can be seen at the poor performances in the past Olympics.

In the Year 1952 India witnessed its first General Election and also its first Olympic medal after the independence. Maharastrian Wrestler K.D. Yadav made this for the Pride of the Country. From a very small town of Karad in Maharashtra, he had a familiar ring to it: neglect, deprivation and a sense of anger at being forgotten in a cricket-crazy country

It has taken fifty-six long and frustrating years for bronze to turn into gold for Indias Olympic athletes. In the meantime, China, which won its first Olympic gold as late as 1984, has become the number one Olympic country, the US remains a powerhouse of talent, and even tiny Jamaica has established an enviable reputation. If the Olympic medal tally was to rank countries in a ratio of population to medals won, we would still probably be close to bottom, our sole satisfaction emerging from the fact that our eternal rivals, the Pakistanis, have drawn a blank. Yadav made the history in the year 1952 when India witnessed first General Election. The dream of independence come true with Jawaharlal Nehru as the 1st democratic elected prime minister of the country. The grand Nehruvian dream: of five year plans with scientific temper, non-alignment, big dams and heavy industries come to people as a vision of future of India. In this vision of a new India, Olympic sports had little place. And for this reason 1billion of Indian did not find a man for gold for a long time. Hockey alone prospered because of the legacy that had been handed over by the colonialists: the clubs and army grounds remained the nurseries of the sport. The rest of Indian sport was literally consigned to endless debates about why we were an Olympic zero.

But now in Hockey also we felt the same and the team even lose the qualifying round for Olympics. It is felt that the players are not getting advantages and are neglected. They could not find even a proper hockey stick for their practice and right diet for growth. So they could not take this as their profession, only the passion took them to represent Our National Game. Therefore, the Olympic sports need promotion. Patron not only from the Govt but from industrial Houses should come for the growth of the National integrity through these sports is required. After Independence the private sector participation in nation building is commendable. So, the Govt should make it mandatory for the private and public sector to take care of the local sports people to grow a team.

With this perhaps the frustration of sports men will be the last time, we will tell their tale. In the aftermath of Beijing, the country will find new Olympian families to showcase: next time, it will be the Bindras of Chandigarh and the Kumars of Bhiwani who will be celebrated. While Indias first medallist died battling for his policemans pension, the new generation heroes will already on the crorepati list.

harihpanda@rediffmail.com