In the last decade, the country has seen a rise in the number of sportspersons in fields other than cricket. Badminton, wrestling, boxing, archery and shooting have all produced stars who have made the country proud with their spectacular performances in international arenas like the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and even the Olympics.
Yet sadly, one still hears stories of young stars like Sita Sahu, an Olympic medallist who sells panipuri to survive and support her family or Nisha Rani Dutta, a former archery champion who was forced to sell her bow for a meagre Rs 50,000 after her house collapsed in the rains.
Prompted by the lack of funding to support and scout sports talent from underprivileged backgrounds, Jacqueline Babitha Fernandez, an athlete herself, has started a LetzFund.com campaign to raise money for a sports NGO, Sports Coaching Foundation in Hyderabad.
“The campaign is being promoted by Hyderabad Runners Club. And I am hoping we can contribute Rs 1 lakh to the Sports Coaching Federation. SCF wants to nurture talent at the grassroots level, and give them opportunities and facilities. Countries like Russia, China and the African nations encourage their children to train and concentrate on their talents from a very young age. They aren’t under any pressure to constantly choose between their academics and passion. Similarly, these organisations are planning to provide that support system where kids will not have to worry about choosing education over sports. The motto is to catch them young and train them,” she explains.
Babitha says that her own sports background gave her the confidence to float the campaign. “I can empathise with sportspersons in the country about the destitute state of sports and the lack of support from the government. Almost all the medal winners are from very backward communities. These are kids who come from humble backgrounds and cannot even afford one square meal a day. Without any facilities, but with just a strong will to win accolades, they go out of their way to train and participate in tournaments and events,” she says, adding, “Cricketers in our country are constantly lauded and flush with sponsorships. The corporates want to pump money only into this sport. The government and Sports Federation snatch their hefty cuts from the funds that are provided for sports other than cricket. The players are left with nothing, and are soon forgotten. This is completely unacceptable.”
Babitha is using the social media to campaign for funds. “I have a reach and influence on social media. If I post something on Facebook, it receives some 500 likes. Even if 10 people from these 500 donate Rs 10,000, it will benefit these underprivileged players in a small way,” she explains.
But why is funding so important to produce a quality sportsperson? “It’s very common for athletes to suffer from soft tissue injuries owing to constant and rigorous training. They need to consume a balanced diet to strengthen their muscles and body to withstand and overcome these injuries. Regular physiotherapy is very important too. How many of our runners or athletes go to physiotherapists or can afford to, even when the injury is very serious?” asks Babitha, adding, “The government does not support them. So somebody has to.”
So, how bad is the scenario when it comes to our sports federations? Babitha laments, “It is just sad. For example, our state has two football federations. This month, we were given an invitation from Bengaluru but the federation sent just two teams. It was not honoured, and the players came back. When the CBSE cluster games are held, students have to pay to take part in these tournaments. If that is the case, where will the great talents come from, and how will you recognise them?”
