International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 05 Issue 07 March 2018 Sports and Politics in India BMallikarjun C Pujari & Vijay kumar S.D 1Assistant Professor of Physical Education (Contractual) College of Forestry Sirsi Karnataka 2Guest Lecturer,Govt, First Grade Degree College, Jewargi Karnataka Abstract given rise to popular personalities such as Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Apart from the rich culture and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, diverse arts presence, India has Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, tremendous experience in different Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar sporting activities such as athletics, ,Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli etc.Apart cricket, shooting, hockey, chess, from the players the sport has given badminton, boxing, golf, kabaddi, rise to the popularity of coaches and wrestling, swimming etc. Besides this even commentators. Cricket players the country has respectable are given a lot of attention by traditional sports such as boat the media and advertising companies. racing,kushti, gilli-danda and India wins one match against others. But the most popular sport in Pakistan or Australia and there goes the country is cricket. This sport is the line of cash prices and cheque’s played at all age groups starting from being showered on them by ministers the grassroots right up to the and state governments. Even in terms international level. The game has of incentives, the other sportsmen and Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1352 International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 05 Issue 07 March 2018 women lag far behind the cricketers. Once the Sports Authority releases Involvement of politicians in sports funds for an event (which has to be a wouldn't have been such an issue had very large amount since it is usually there not been corruption everywhere either for cricket or for hockey), the our politicians are involved. money passes on from one hand to the Key word- politics. Government, other, each one stealing from it a few management crores. The dates of the event come Introduction near and there's no sign of the preparations hence more funds are To start with, all the major released. It is usually after the second positions in the association of or the third funding the the work is different sports is given out to the finally done ( for eg. Commonwealth politicians who hold criminal records Games). or have no background in that particular field by the Sports Moving on to the various Sports Authority of India. For eg. Lalit Federations, the common trend one Bhanot was elected the Secretary can see is that these have been General of Indian Olympic controlled by particular families (of Association in 2010, despite being in politicians) for decades, as if it were jail for a year. Usually the ex their ancestral property. For instance, beurocrats and the politicians (who the Cycling Federation of India is have no idea about these sports, for under Parminder Dhindsa of Akali eg. The Ex BCCI chief N Srinivasan) Dal and Sukhdev Dhindsa's son fill the pockets of the selectors and presides over Punjab Olympic once they get the desired position, Association (to be noted that they fill their own pockets. maximum sum of money for weightlifting, hockey and Wrestling is Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1353 International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 05 Issue 07 March 2018 handed ot Punjab Olympic sports associations and federations we Association). Similarly, the Rowing went for some people who had Federation has been under Kamakhya achieved something in that particular Prasad's family for almost a decade sport, things wouldn't have been as now. After he stepped down in 2008, ugly as they are in present. his cousin presided over it and now Despite the numerous revelations it's his wife. Needless to say, neither about fraud and forgery being made of them held any experience in by the International Olympic Rowing. There are many more stories Association, the same culprits still like these in almost every other sport hold the offices in India. The problem you come across needs to be addressed from the One would be surprised to know that grassroot level and it lies in the lack for the preparation of athletes for each of sporting culture here in India. Olympic Games the Sports Authority of India releases 3,200 Crores. This Hockey is our National sport, but has might be quiet small sum compared to lost importance in the past few years; UK but even if 1/4th of this sum is it even failed to qualify for the Beijing actually put to use the results would Olympics. In the London Olympics have been much better than just one 2012 the Indian hockey team came silver and one bronze in 2016 out last losing all its matches. Not Olympics. only hockey, but tennis, football, golf, From the roots to the fruits, the Sports badminton all shares the same association here in India is adulterated pathetic condition. Neither are the with corrupt politicians. If rather than sponsors interested in financing them, picking politicians to preside over nor does the government raise enough Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1354 International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 05 Issue 07 March 2018 funds. The Hockey team receives a including the 2014 Winter meagre sum for every goal that they Olympics and, more worrisome from score, whereas those given to the India’s perspective, the 2016 summer cricketers do not require a mention. Olympics in Rio. It is really shocking Even football has lost its importance to see politicians and ex-bureaucrats to a great extent except for Goa and holding positions as Chairman and West Bengal; no other states are Committee members for several interested in football. In short, decades most of them having no clue no sport in India except cricket is well about the sport in general With the managed. Indian sports are trapped government of India pumping several in politics. New controversies arise crore rupees into the various sports almost every week. bodies for promoting sports and encouraging the sportsmen, these sports bodies have become fertile The most recent embarrassment to ground for the politicians and ex- Indian sport is the suspension due to bureaucrats to make money. What is the fact that officials tainted by even more disturbing is that even after corruption charges win influential the stinging observations made by the positions. For example Lalit Bhanot, international Olympic who spent 11 months in prison after association, the office bearers are still allegations of corruption following holding on to the positions and have the 2010 games, was elected as not thought it necessary to quit the Secretary General of the Indian job. Olympic Association. If the ban is not Dynasties seem to rule Indian overturned, India will be banned from sport. There are many examples that competing in any Olympic events, show how politicians and their Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1355 International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 05 Issue 07 March 2018 families run committees as if it’s a of the Tamil Nadu Cycling family get together. Parminder Singh Association, World Squash Dhindsa of the Akali Dal is president Federation, the Tamil Nadu Squash of the Cycling Federation of India and Rackets Association and the vice- the son of Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa is president of the Tamil Nadu Olympic currently president of the Punjab Association. Jadgish Tytler, a Olympic Association. The Chautala Congress leader, has been at the helm brothers Abhay Singh and Ajay Singh of the Judo Federation of India for have heralded an era of total nearly 20 years on a trot. “There is politicization of the sports federations. hardly anyone in the judo body who Between them, the two brothers dares to say anything against Tytler. control the Indian Amateur Boxing Sport’s is one area where India lags Federation and the table tennis behind even some of the poorest federation of India. nations in the world despite a huge In 2008, Kamakhya Prasad Singh Deo pool of talented sportsperson. At the stepped down as president of the junior levels, our boys and girls can Rowing Federation of India. He was compete with the best in the world in replaced as president by his cousin, almost every sport. However when it CP Singh Deo. When CP Singh Deo comes to the senior levels, where the ended his term, he was succeeded by actual capabilities of our sportsperson his wife Rajlaxmi Singh Deo. are tested, we fail miserably. Similarly is the case of N Those who suffer due to such sordid Ramachandran, vice-president of the conditions are the athletes, who have Indian Triathlon Federation (his wife the talent and desire to compete and is the president). He is also president excel themselves in the international Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 1356 International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 05 Issue 07 March 2018 arena but they need to be given proper some of which you might not be grooming and training which they knowing: have been denied.