Sports freak India

It would not be wrong, if I say, India is a sports zealot country. “Sports” is really a mode of expression , chit-chats,discussion and debate here. For us, Indians, sports is the common link that binds us all.Many sports are encouraged here.But, “Cricket” holds a significant place.When India – Pakistan matches are played, the TRP of channels reach to about 9.5. Also, one cannot miss the IPL matches and T-20 matches of India. Indians are really a devout of Cricket. If you pass a ‘gully’ or ‘playground’ in India in summers, you would find children of all age, size, shape and caste playing cricket. Now, traditional sports and games like ‘gulli danda’, ‘chuppa-chhai’,'rappa’,'hockey’ have taken a backseat. It’s cricket , due to constant media glare that rules the roost.If you ask a child of say 4th grade that what’s is our national game? UI am sure the answer would be cricket.

I would not shy away from saying that “MEDIA” too played a vital role in catapulating “cricket” so much so that other sports faded away. Until, Sania Mirza qualified for a Wimbledon, nobody knew whatTennis was.Here, we are talking about youth. I am sure, our parent’s would mention Prakash Padukone achievements in Badminton too.

Now, the sports scenario is changing slowly,Sania Nehwal’s brilliant performance in Asian cup has made us all proud.Also,Somdev Devakaraman (Tennis) has sealed India’s place in the elite World Group for the first time in 11 years.One cannot even underestimate the contribution of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati in bringing laurels to our country. Every child, knows the name of Dhanaraj Pillai in Hockey(please check your facts since Dhanraj Pillai belongs to the 50’s era). when I ask my 4 year old nephew taht that what he wants to become when he grows up/ He says Vijender Singh (Boxing) or Sunil Raina (Weight lifting). Abhinav winning a gold for shooting in Olympics, was celebrated as a festival in India.

In India, sports rocks!(That’s youthful way of saying how sports are worshipped here.) We have many movies based on sports in India, say Chak de India ,Victory, Lagaan or latest , Dil Bole Hadippa.

People are crazy for sportsmen. People want to have their hair styled as that of Dhoni.They want to wear the nose ring as worn by Sania.You find young girls asking for hairclips as that Saina Nehwal.We have many lookalikes of these stars too.They earn their bread on their “face value”.Truly, the brand that hires these stars earn like crazy. They make double digit profit /growth in a single week. That’s the charm, the sport’s people have in India.

But, still our country doesnot encourage many other sports as played in foreign countries. Not many facilities and aids are provided to the other sports say hockey/handball.The funds are not channelised.Mallaya is denied a collabration to build world class F1 racing zone in India, as it is considered to be expensive.We are not encouraged for sports at home. Mom or dad would ask us to concentrate on academics rather. That’s the plight!

Watever it is, in the end, I would like to say that we all should follow our passion. If we like sports, go to it. who knows, media would keep tracking you in a few years? There is this amazing quote which says,

“Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them — a desire, a dream, a vision”. by Muhammad Ali, American Boxer.

Hi Neetal

Good choice of topic. However, even though you discuss as how sports have evolved in India and how sports other than cricket are getting increasingly accepted, you do not mention that there is still no encouragement at the Govt. level to increase participation of people in these sports.

People imitating hairstyles of sportspersons shows much of fan following, however it doesn’t reflect people’s interest in sports to the extent that they want to take it up as a career. We need to reach that stage. Do you agree?

Nonetheless, great effort!

Regards

The Viewspaper Team