10 ways to inculcate a Sporting Culture in India


Every four years, the Indian Media and the cricket frenzy Indian Masses take to the television screens with heated debates on the failure of Indian Athletes in the Olympics. Little do they realize that they need to cover all the stories and lack of sporting culture at the grassroots level across the country which ultimately lead to such disasters at the International Level. Having said that, there is always room for development and upliftment of sports in the country with assistance from the Authorities and Masses alike. What do India need to do to inculcate a sports culture across the nation for success at the long run? Let us look at 10 such ways to inculcate sports culture in India.

1) Promotion of Sports at School

Almost every average Indian Kid in Urban and Rural Areas attend schools. Schools are the first stage where sports and games can be instilled in children. A structured timetable can be followed with quality coaches at the disposal of the students to allow them to learn the basics of any particular sport.
Teachers need to stop taking over sports periods and allow children to play sport. Both girls and boys need to play under certified coaches with the availability of decent infrastructure. Most of the children across India often while away their time by roaming and sitting in the classrooms during games (Sports) periods, which needs to be avoided. A professional approach is required at the school level to get every child involved in sports and games.

2) Role of parents, academics and Gadgets

With the Internet dominating the World with its immense versatility, Indian Society has been one of its worst victims, as far sports are concerned. Kids have stopped stepping out of their homes in the evening to play sports. Instead, children are resorting to gaming consoles and mobiles to play games. Televisions are also another cause of diminishing sports culture in India, especially the Urban areas. Tutions in the evening is the final nail in the coffin for sports at the grassroots level. An average Indian Parent is hellbent on getting their children a so-called 'safe' future by imposing academics, coaching classes and tuitions on their children, thus killing any scope of inculcating skills and flair for any specific sport. Immense academical competition followed by Electronic Gadgets is one of the root cause of the dwindling sports-friendly environment in the country.

3) Setting up Grounds and Complexes at the Local Level

The landscape of Indian Cities is fast changing. Shopping Malls, Corporate Houses, Apartments are taking all the areas by storm. Companies have been resorting to shrewd methods to lure the Government and are taking over all the empty spaces in the cities, including fields and grounds. Not everyone can afford a fancy academy and only a few are available. Local Governments and NGOs need to help preserve fields and grounds in colonies to allow children to play. There has been a rise in 'pay and play' courts in cities which serve little purpose due to the dismal economic condition of the paramount population.

4) Setting up Academies

All said and done, the actual development of sports will only take place when professional academies come up across every district. With the Bollywood stepping up the game with several biopics on sportspersons, the hosting of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the success of Indian Badminton, Hockey and Hima Das should urge the Corporates to set up academies and invest in the same and produce sporting talents. Fees can be subsidized with scholarships for talented kids. The Government can also intervene through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and assist the academies financially.

5) Women Safety

Several cases have come to light in the recent past with Female Athletes suffering sexual harassment during tournaments. The Ministry has formed several Women Safety committees in Sports across the State Federations to curb this phenomenon. Women Safety is key to Indian Sports. Girls often stop playing sports due to harassment from their male counterparts in tours and tournaments. A safe environment is pivotal in promoting girls to take up sports.

6) Exposure

The Indian Football Team was stripped of a golden opportunity to play in the Asian Games 2018. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) did not agree with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to send the football teams to Thailand citing 'a chance of no medal' as the reason. This came as a major set back for the Blue Tigers as it could have served as a good platform to test the youngsters for the AFC Asian Cup 2019, which could have propelled India to the next round in the Tournament.
The Women side was also disallowed participation by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The Indian Ladies showed what they could do in the recently concluded 2020 Olympic Qualifiers where they finished second in the second round, missing the ride to the next round by a whisker which was way better than the team's previous performances.
Hence, teams need to be sent abroad in regular intervals and play in as many events as possible to keep the momentum. Crossing swords with better opponents always play an important role in bettering the quality of the team/athletes.

7) Eradicating Age Fraud and Doping

Sports at the youth level in India have been extremely plagued by Age Fraud. Deserved players often miss out on the opportunity due to biologically elder athletes competing in the same age group. Parents often forge birth certificates in a bid to send their children into good colleges under sports quotas. This malpractice needs to stop and Hospitals have to very strict in handling correct birth certificates to the children.
Children often end up taking up drugs due to bad company which make them imperfect for sports. Few Athletes often resort to drugs only to amplify their performances on the pitch. Such practices need to be curbed.

8) Proper Sports Nutrition

India's per capita annual income is a mere Rs. 60,000 and are ranked 135 in the world. While Luxemburg sit top of the table with a whopping Rs. 84,08,034 as their Per Capita annual income. Such disparities in economic conditions are one of the sole reasons of India's disappointing results in the International Level in Sports.
Poverty in India is the root cause of malnourishment of Indian Kids. Lack of intake of necessary nutrients at an early stage gradually lead to lack of fitness and endurance in the athletes in the future.
Sports Medicine and Physiotherapy are key elements in curbing this menace

9) Role of Media

The Media needs to stop trying to gain mileage by only televising sports reports when a athlete wins something at the global level. How many of us knew Hima Das or Dipa Karmakar before their heroics at the Word Level? Minuscule. Instead of showing their path to success, the Media is hell-bent on earning TRP.
The Media should cover stories at the grassroots level and report on what circumstances and conditions, our athletes train. They need to bring the burning issues to the notice of the masses. Cases of Sexual Harassment in Sports, Age Fraud, Malnourishment, Lack of Field and Academies are the instances which should be covered by the Media. This can force the Government to take the necessary steps to solve the same.

10) Role of the Government

Last but not the least. The Government with its sub-federations need to implement several schemes to protect the athletes. There has been an instance when Sita Sahu, a double bronze medallist at the 2011 Special Olympics (for the intellectually challenged), had to sell street food (golgappas) in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, due to callous neglect by state officials and members of the athletics fraternity. It was only in 2014 that the state government finally fulfilled its promises and she could return to her training. But she had to miss out on the 2015 Los Angeles World Games.


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