December 24 – Essay: 2025 | UPSC Daily Answer Writing Practice PDF Download

Games and Sports in India

structure

(1) Opening    —    Bleak scenario.

(2) Body    —    Tradition of physical fitness. Famous bowmen etc.

    —    S. Korea, China etc. are shining examples.

    —    Problems

        * Lack of sports culture.

        * Poor support—infrastructure, training, money etc.

        * No facilities in schools.

        * No private, industry’s support.

        *Bureaucratisation and politicisation of sports bodies.

        * Lack of commitment and professionalism in the sportsmen.

(3) Closing    —    Need for future.

In fact, it is itself a wonder that in a country of 1300 million people, we cannot find even hundred men and women who can be called world standard sportsmen. Lack of infrastructure and sports culture, bureaucratisation of sports bodies, lack of incentives for sportsmen and lack of commitment and imagination on the part of those who play and those who manage have brought games and sports to such a pass in the country.

Traditionally, games and sports formed an important part of an average Indian’s life, keeping physically fit and strong was considered important. But we failed to make use of our traditional skills and techniques to have talents in modern sports. It is this country where bare-footed athletes from a small football club defeated English champions for Durand Cup and today, the national team can’t even think of getting through the qualifying round of the world cup. In fact, even if we defeat one country (leaving aside Nepal, Bhutan and the like), it is considered an achievement. A country that produced great bowmen like Arjun, Karna and Eklavya, who could hit a target blind-folded by simply hearing its sound, can today produce only one Limba Ram. A country that boasts of six Olympic hockey gold medals, can today not even reach the semi-finals. While other countries have improved many fold over the years, Indian sports has either stagnated or deterio

rated. Asian Games did help in providing some facilities and some encouragement to sports people but it was too little and temporary. If S. Koreans could improve their skills so much that they challenged China for the top slot in the previous Asiad, why couldn’t we?

The first and foremost reason is the lack of sports culture. In the age of dwindling job market and increasing competition, parents prefer that their children study more and do not encourage them to play. After all what does sports give? A former Asian Games Champion plies rickshaw to earn a living. Schools are more interested in having more children in merit list than seeing them on victory podium. It is not to say that studies should be compromised, but not everyone has intelligence, capacity or inclination to become a doctor or an engineer. Shouldn’t those who have the interest and talent be encouraged to take up sports? But when most of the schools are run in small building with little or no open space, where will the children go to play.

To develop sports, it has to be adopted as a career—professionalism is the need of the day. But who will like to make it a career when it offers little incentive? There is a little money that government spends and fewer still comes from the private sources. Very few companies offer job to a sportsman unless he has some other qualification. And one who is concerned about his dal-roti, how can he devote everything to sports? It is important that more money is put into sports. It is not that this money is going to a waste. Not only to sports give returns directly but even indirectly through publicity and advertisement.

If we leave aside big talks and tall claims, we find that it is very little that government organisations like SAI and IOA are doing. Politicisation and bureaucratisation have removed completely sportsmanship and professionalism from these organisations. Politicians and bureaucrats rule the roost—these organisations serve the purpose of helping them in elections, or in being close to centres of power, or getting free trips abroad in addition to publicity and facilities. Favouritism and nepotism is the order of the day. Selection is decided by the dictum—”Those who serve well, play well.” The shocking episode of Indian women athletes being made to serve wine at an embassy party is too well known to be recounted here.

Lack of money and support leaves many deserving and talented people in the dry. What is the greater evidence than the fact that Delhi with a population of more than 12 million has only one indoor swimming pool, one stadium with facilities to exercise and one velodrom. And Delhi is the capital city. The situation is worse off in remote areas.

Last but not the least, even sportsmen themselves are to be blamed for the sorry state of affairs. They are more interested in developing right contacts than developing their skills, professionalism for them means money mindedness and profit. Isn’t it the duty of those sportsmen, who are fortunate enough to clear all obstacles and make their mark, to help those who are still struggling. They have been through it and they know it all. So they should be motivated enough and in the right position to do the job. But we find that for them too sports has become a means to further their own career. Once their purpose is achieved, they care little about others.

Sportsmanship is essential if sports are to develop in India. It is the sportsmen themselves who should be given the job of managing and coaching. Result-oriented programmes should be launched. Otherwise, our leaders will shout hoarse about what they have done and Indian sportsmen and women will continue to be left high and dry in search of elusive titles and medals.