Monday Musing
[ M Doley ]
The state's sports minister recently said that Arunachal Pradesh is poised to become a sports powerhouse. He was right indeed. The state has everything it needs to become India's next sporting hub. It has innate talents and a good sporting culture.
More importantly, the state has a willing government. What it needs now is investment and a system that truly works for the players.
In Arunachal, the bitter truth is that players win medals, are celebrated for a day, and are then forgotten.
In recent times, athletes from the state have excelled in various international level competitions, but not without struggle. Many talented athletes from poor families give up playing sports midway as they cannot afford advanced training or equipment due to financial problems.
The government's cash incentive to meritorious sportspersons is a commendable initiative, but the reward comes only after they have won. For athletes from poor families, the real challenge is before the win. They have to struggle to continue playing their sports due to lack of financial support. A monthly stipend to young and promising athletes can go a long way in meeting their basic needs, like buying a pair of sports shoes, track suits, etc.
The government's 10 percent job reservation for meritorious sportspersons is a commendable initiative, but the number of beneficiaries remains small. Every parent wants financial security for their child. Until athletes are assured that sports actually secure them a job, parents will naturally discourage their children from pursuing sports as a career.
The silver lining, despite the challenges, is that many parents still support their children. In 2018, an athlete's father sold his mithun to ensure his daughter's participation in an event in Jordan.
Another major issue affecting sports in the state is talent scouting. Authorities often talk about prioritising early talent identification and systematic training of young athletes, but it has seldom materialised on the ground. A dedicated talent identification programme, especially in rural areas, is the need of the hour.
The state has 58 Khelo India Centres (KICs) - the second-highest in the Northeast after Assam - with over 1,500 athletes training in these KICs. Besides, there is a National Centre of Excellence in Chimpu and a State Sports Academy in Miao, Changlang. If they function properly, these sports centres should be enough to groom talent.
The state has very few NIS-trained coaches, and vital components of modern sports, like injury management and nutrition guidance, are almost nonexistent. Authorities should also give priority to it.
As the state government has taken initiatives for the development of sports in the state by launching several ambitious schemes and announcing sufficient funds, it is time for all stakeholders to come together and ensure their effective implementation.
