Should Indian sportspersons keep asking the Govt for help?

Every year, US-based Indian Discus thrower Vikas Gowda comes down to visit the Union Sports Ministry and the Karnataka State Government. During this visit, he and his father make it a point to speak to the media — the topic remains the same: financial hardships and how the government isn’t doing enough for him.

In the latest episode, Vikas and his father Shive Gowda have spoken to Times of India and Deccan Herald from USA about how they are facing a money crunch as he begins his preparation for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

“It is sad that the authorities in India are not realizing that we are wasting time. We are yet to get any funding for Vikas’ training despite repeated mails to the Union sports minister, officials, SAI officials, Athletics Federation of India and the Karnataka sports department,” Shive was quoted as saying by TOI on Tuesday.

“We can’t wait any longer. We will be forced to take a huge credit as we need at least $90,000 to begin training at the World Athletics Centre in Arizona. Till now we managed by spending the cash award of Rs 10 lakh which Vikas got from the central government for reaching the final in the London Olympics,” he added.

Both the father and son had come to India in September and met Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and had sought funds to the tune of Rs 1.1 crore for training in the US. After meeting the Chief Minister, Shive had said, “I think the CM should adopt Vikas. We are in need of resources because he is on the doorstep of history. He is a good athlete. Why deny one of the best athletes in India? He is clean and earned a good name in Moscow.”

There is no argument about the fact that Gowda is one of the best Discus thrower India has produced and deserves all the support that he can get from the government and the corporate world. But there is something seriously wrong with the way our top athletes believe that it is the government’s obligation to foot the entire bill of their training and competition.

According to the annual report of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the government paid Vikas Rs 25,84,596 in the financial year 2011-12 for training and another 26,32,941 till December 2012. The Karnataka government also provided him with a financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh apart from the prize money that the state and central government gives players for exceptional performances in international competitions like the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Asian and World championship and the Olympics.

I completely understand that the Mangalorean, who is based in US, needs far more funds than what he has received to achieve his aim of finishing on the podium at 2016 Rio Olympics and the next world championship. But to say that the government is doing nothing to support him would be plain ungrateful.

It’s not just Gowda. This sense of entitlement from most sportspersons in the country is appalling. The argument is that the Indian government should follow in the footsteps of the Chinese system that funds the athletes entirely.

But how many of these athletes will be willing to follow the Chinese system to a T? The likes of Gowda and many others are in a way professionals, who earn prize money and sponsorship from private companies as sportspersons up and above the government funding they receive.

In the Chinese system, the players have to deposit the prize money with the government and the sponsorship deals are signed by the national sports bodies and the players have to oblige. How many of our players would be willing to do the same?

In all other countries, the government only acts as a facilitator by providing good training facilities and providing the basic monetary support for the players to develop and the National Federations to become self-sufficient.

Player’s from Netherlands had to raise their own funds to participate in the 2013 World Badminton championship and even their hockey players do odd jobs apart from playing for clubs and national team to meet ends.

In India, the government even provides the player’s job for life apart from funding their training and competition to a large extend. The legendary Prakash Padukone has been pretty critical of this job-for-sportspersons system and once told yours truly that the players should not be given permanent jobs till they are playing and every incentive should be linked to their performance.

We need to understand that a career in sports in just like running your own business. Internationally players not only invest in their training and competition but also hire professionals to create a brand image for themselves and attract sponsors. They are particular in promoting their sponsors according to the provisions in their contract and keeping their commitments.

How many Indian athletes can vouch that they have all these systems in place? If, the Indian government is one of their sponsor then how much time have the likes of Gowda given to promote sport in the country or highlight the support provided by the government?

One needs to understand that India has a long way to go before it can become a force in world of sport. For that to happen, we would need thousands of children playing sports professionally under highly qualified coaches and at state of art training facilities. The government obviously needs to invest in infrastructure development apart from funding the top players.

It’s time we all understand that.