Has it got something to do with the now infamous lack of killer instinct amongst the Indian sportsmen or has it go to do with sloppy handling of things or lack of any sports policy? Noted sports columnist and TV commentator Harsha Bhogle once wrote of how the gun of shooter Jaspal Rana went out of order while competing at the Asian Games and how he missed the gold medal due to official apathy. Such cases may be the exception but it certainly paints a very sorry picture. 

Apart from the National Games we have a myriad of other sporting events for different disciplines lined up in one calendar year, like the Santosh Trophy. The National League for football was introduced sometime in the middle of the 90s and while the introduction of such a League is welcome we have not been able to climb the chart in world football in any way. 

Likewise too for the other sporting meets. None of these sporting events have unearthed talents who have gone on to stamp their class at the highest international level and perhaps it is time the sports administrators of the country start questioning why the numerous sports meets have not been able to produce a world beater at the highest international level. A good showing at the Commonwealth Games or the SAF Games certainly does not make our sportspersons world beaters.

This is the issue which should be concerning the sports administrators even as the 32nd National Games is underway at Hyderabad. As expected Manipur is doing exceptionally well occupying the third spot after host Andhra Pradesh and giants Punjab on the medals tally securing 20 gold, 14 silver and 15 bronze (as of December 18). 

Some more medals, hopefully more gold, should come our way if everything goes to the pre-tournament calculation. The good showing put up by a small State like Manipur, whose population is miniscule when compared to the other bigger States like West Bengal, should serve as the guiding light for some of our sports administrators. 

In our opinion running the affairs of sports should be left to professionals and management gurus and not to politicians who have lost an election or bureaucrats who have the uncanny knack to transform the most simple of tasks into the most complex process. More importantly too the management should be made accountable for we have seen that one of the ills plaguing the system of governance in the country is the lack of accountability. 

One reason why India is comparatively better off in cricket is because the Board of Control for Cricket in India is not linked to the Government in any way and most of the administrators are professionals who know how to run and manage the show. Inviting the private sector to invest in sports and manage the different disciplines may sound a little too far fetched but it is nevertheless an inviting prospect.

(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)