Millions in the Indian subcontinent are glued to the scintillating game of football amidst the ongoing Fifa World Cup, 2010. One can see the fever everywhere regardless of the kind of living. Be it the more privileged ones who watch this spectacular game on LCDs sitting on comfy sofas, or the ones in destitution who still manage to flauntingly wave Brazil’s or Argentina’s flags and form crowds to get a glimpse of the jabulani; the fanaticism is obtrusive. A nation where cricket is indubitably considered a second religion, gave no importance whatsoever to the Asia Cup which happened to clash with the Fifa World Cup. Apparently, India won the cup and none seem to even be cognizant of the affair, let alone be jubilant. All this would have made sense had the Indian football team been able to qualify for the World Cup. However, they haven’t and the ugly truth is they haven’t been able to in 80 years since their affiliation with Fifa, apart from the one time in 1950 when they purportedly withdrew on being rejected to play barefoot. What, then, is the justification of this obscure status quo? Is it an indication to a change of favouritism in sports in India? Or is it simply because of the fact that the Maestro wasn’t a part of the trophy winning Indian team? Even if latter is the case, cricket in India is ostensibly ephemeral. And a change in the Indian sporting culture is imminent. Perhaps, this change is due and is for the good as cricket, and previously hockey, have hogged up almost the entire attention of media and government support. Support in terms of funds can be tossed about by cricketers today thanks to the IPL. It is the broadening of the span of sports that is of dire need. It is poignant that a country like the Netherlands, having a population less than that of a South Delhi colony, have reached the Quarter-Finals and have shocked the mighty Brazilians to move on to the Semis with heads held high; while India, a nation comprising more than 17% of the world population, gets knocked out in its first round in the Qualifiers. It is high time that India do something about its abysmal performance in sports other than cricket. Hope it does and that too soon.
Mere jaise aam log isko samjhenge kaise bhai? ee kaun bhasa ba?
ReplyDeleteNah , on a more serious level, sports in India needs to be abolished completely. All kids better be solving transform calculus if they have got to have any future, or any chance of landing a half-decent chick.
Whatsay you Sir?
Yeah apart from the obvious that most of this thing goes above my head too :P , the fact remains that this problem has been long over due and most of the people have done nothing apart from complaining..I mean if you dont have talent in your country how can you gain popularity and to produce the talented sportspersons you need motivate your little ones from their childhood and not bias them..To add to that I would say that nothing would start in this country if the sponsors dont find any long term potential in it.. consider the case of badminton now.. Saina Nehwal breaking into top 3 will undoubtedly send badminton a long way in gaining popularity coz she is a potential no. 1.. The things like triumph in olympics, badminton and to some extent in tennis have created a buzz in the country about these sports..unlike them, football is not an individual talent game and unless we find some exceptional talent making it to some clubs abroad our sports ministry wont bother to invest in it..
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