Sports should not estrange

The current imbroglio in the Indian sports scene following the country’s cricket 20-20 world cup victory may well ring its cross currents across Asian cricket playing nations particularly here in Sri Lanka.

India’s nail biting victory which was greeted with tumultuous scenes of jubilation also brought in its wake much heartburn among its National Hockey team which had recorded runway success in international tournaments.

While the cricketers received a kings ransom in prize money in addition to various Chief Ministers falling over themselves to shower more largesse on the returning heros the feats of the country’s Hockey eleven went virtually unnoticed.

There was no bonus or sponsorship package for them. They are now threatening a fast to highlight the stepmotherly treatment meted out to their sport and their achievements going unrewarded while cricketers are being showered with the mega bucks.

The matter has also spawned a raging national debate in India on the pros and cons of the issue highlighted in the media that may perhaps spark a bout of conscience among the sports authorities in that country.

This episode may well have its consequences in Sri Lanka too where cricketers are being seen to be a pampered lot with both the State and the cooperate sector all too eager to shower their bounty on our players to supplement the mega bucks they already earn from international fixtures .

Who would have imagined that a game largely played for leisure in the village greens of England by the Gentlemen and Players watched by spectators nibbling sandwiches and drinking coffee as sketched in Dickenizien portrayals would undergo such a metamorphosis.

There is no doubt the game has today assumed a corporate outlook with National Cricket Boards the envy of even the top notch blue chip companies of the host countries.Our Cricket Board stands out in this regard.

The sport that was held up as the gentleman’s game and gave birth to phrases such as ‘It’s not cricket’ and ‘playing a straight’ bat is today being placed on the altar of mammon divesting it of the spirit in which it played in the days of yore.

The Indian parallel is very much evident even in our own country where cricket reigns supreme. True, there are sponsors who come forward to promote other sports. But in comparison to the patronage extended to cricket these are mere sops that go largely unnoticed in the public spotlight.

It is only our athletes who had received some form of tangible rewards and these too are not in the same league as in cricket, going by the outbursts of our very own Susanthika following a victory on the track.

It is cricket which hogs the limelight and recipient of the bounty. While nobody would begrudge the riches and accolades showered on our cricketers deservedly so for gaining glory to the country the authorities should be wary lest they create a tier of second class citizens in sports.

We should not allow the disillusion and discontent manifesting in the sport scene of India take root here. The Sports authorities should strive to pursue a level playing by trying to uplift other sports too and according to them the same recognition as cricket.

Given that our Cricket Board coffers are brimming with the gravy why cannot at least a part of this riches be diverted to foster other sport in which the country has excelled in the past.

The frenzy generated by the success in cricket had also thrust other sports into oblivion so much so all commercial advertisements are dominated by cricketers.

Therefore, while hailing the deeds of our cricketing heros and doing everything possible to egg them on to greater deeds, it is time the authorities pause to ponder on the fall out of this inordinate attention paid to an elitist sport.

The Sports Minister at least should think of ways to ensure that all other sports do not fall by the wayside due to the special attention paid to cricket. A countrywide programme should be launched to unearth talents in other sports.

One should keep in mind that the Susanthikas and Dharshas were spotted by mere accident. How much more talent there would be languishing in the denizens.

We are sure that President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was a sportsman of no mean repute in his hay day would take steps to rectify this anomaly. It is time that other sports be lifted to a plane that the glamour and glitter reserved for cricket would beam on them as well.