Any takers for the Rio disaster?

The celebration time has lasted a few days after our athletes won a couple of medals the Rio Games. The nation’s sports fraternity has received the two young courageous ladies very warmly, as they saved the prestige of our nation of 1.25 million. Without Sindhu and Sakshi’s efforts our head would have hung in shame.

My column of 22^nd May did indicate the results which were quite evident but the political games played by all stakeholders— be it Ministry of Youth Affairs – Olympic Association of India – the respective games federations– the Sports Authority of India did not see this coming. My only submission is if a small man of my stature could see this coming than how come all the combined wisdom of the knowledgeable and powerful people could not see!!!

The whole drama of sports promotions has fallen flat and all claims have proven false, my effort is to see that as a  taxpaying  citizen we should try and raise a question mark on the ‘lies’ of the sports administrator who played havoc with the nation’s sentiments. The larger question is the wrong path they show to our youth who are willing to give their hundred per cent to be a sportsperson.

Sports promotions has fallen flat and all claims have proven false, my effort is to see that as a  taxpaying  citizen we should try and raise a question mark on the ‘lies’ of the sports administrator who played havoc with the nation’s sentiments. 

The question is to be raised at the qualification of these administrators; their sincere efforts for the mission Olympics and finally their accountability towards the results. All the sports administrators who were wasting the tax payer’s money to do “marathons” or book launches” and ‘send off ceremonies’ and ‘Selfies’ at Rio should be given due notices and clarifications should be sort for the disasterous performance of our team in Rio..

Four years since the last games I am sure some ‘babu’s’ at the ministry and some ‘advisor’s’ at Sports Authority of India and some ‘able’ office bearer of the Association must have drawn ‘A roadmap’ for the next games,committees would have been formed; coaching strategy would have been evolved; talent hunt would have taken place and finances would have been allocated. Sanctions would have been given now sanction should be questioned liabilities should be fixed; Enquirers should be set up and most important aspect of “Introspection” should be done.The ‘wise men’ who claimed 10-12 medals should be called in a public debate and be asked how and why they claimed these inflated numbers. They should accept this failure and should relinquish their posts before they are thrown away or an action is taken against them. It is always said that people only criticize  but have no solutions, but I have few – the Nation should hold Talent Hunt for “Gopi’s” and “Dhaiya” or “Biswas” who knows how to tap and nurture young talent.  India should have a body which can independently work for development of sports but free them from the ministry or association. We should allow the sportsperson of our country to contribute and have voice in decision making.

I am happy that the Prime Minister is setting up a task force for next 3 Olympics but the fear is who will do the talent hunt for these task force. I hope it is not the same administrator who has been playing “musical chair” for the last so many years because of whom we are at this juncture.

Thank you Sister Sindhu and Sakshi for the Raksha Bandhan gifts, we brothers are proud of you.         

Hemanshu Chaturvedi is a sports guru.