Why India Struggles at Sports?

Why sports is still just an extra-curricular activity?

Cricket is not just a game, it is a religion in the Indian Subcontinent. People of all age groups always wait eagerly for any Indian Cricket match. A lot of emotions are running through our minds as we see our team heading towards victory. Sports have always been an essential part of our lives, whether it be playing in childhood in the streets or watching them on our television sets. But why out of the 130+ crore population only 118 athletes qualified and participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics?

This clearly indicates that sports is appreciated by all but not encouraged to all.

A toddler is handed over many toys to play with for fun. Later in his/her age he/she is being taught to ride a bicycle and even introduced to other sports and games. But one thing never changed was that all sports he played during the day were just meant for fun and entertainment. As soon as parents realize that he had his enough time playing games, they hand him over the books. Despite of being very good at some game, most of the parents always refrain from encouraging them from opting for sports as a career. A week long of 7 hours school daily also comprise only a single period of sports in the whole week.The emphasis has only been on studies. "Kheloge kudoge banogey kharaab, padhoge likhogey to banoge nawab" has been the sole motto.

The onset of technological era in India has somewhat also contributed in children not playing games. Rather than playing the real sports outside with friends,they are playing it over their smartphones and laptops. No doubt this era made the young minds more smart and made them mentally strong, but not physically fit.

Those who are encouraged by their parents to go for sports, are not welcomed by good platforms at rookie level. The schools and community lack essential platforms to boost up the skill in a player in a specific sport. The local or school sports academies either don't have skilled coach or the necessary equipments. With most of his energy being drained up in the school in his study , he is not able to give his best at the sports, hence he finds difficulty in coping up by the academic as well as to his passion. Sooner or later he has to give up his passion with a mindset that there is no scope of sports in future as a career.

Nothing is more patriotic than representing your nation at an international game. One stands an opportunity to represent a country with 130+ crores of people cheering up for them. But one question arises that whether the nation is doing enough for them, for their hardwork? India has been spending crores of money to space research, new development projects, to helathcare and education, but they hadn't been quite good at spending money for the athletes. All the international Indian athletes have accused that if they would have been provided with good facilities then, they would have performed well.

Shiva Keshavan , an Indian Winter Olympic athlete once also mentioned about the lack of funding provided to him. He said that he had to raise money as charity for his ticket to Sochi(Japan) for Winter Olympics. There had been many such incidents and what was common among them was that they all demanded that the sports other than cricket should be treated equally and the prize money should be raised as in cricket.

Recently when our India Women Cricket team performed great at the World Cup, there raised a scope that now the government will focus on the betterment of players especially women. But other than just applauding there had been no initiative taken by the government.

The Indian athletes and the Indian soldiers are the most suffering respectable people of our society. They spend so much of their time, money and energy and in return , they just want that government and the society must contribute their bit in encouraging the games , respecting the game and providing sufficient fund for their upliftment. Many Bollywood movies have also showcased about the current situation of the sports in India and the career of athletes post retirement. For example Chakk De India , Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Paan Singh Tomar to name a few.

I hope that Sports in India will rise and will not remain just an extra curricular activity for fun and entertainment purpose.

Jai Hind

Truth Behind Some Common Superstitions In India

MYTH AND MYTHOLOGY Have you ever been pointed out by your parents or elders over cutting nails inside the house at night? If yes have you ever wondered why they tell so? What is the reason behind it and should we really need to stop cutting nails at night? Let’s find out as I explain the truth behind some myths and superstitions prevailing in India. Cutting Nails at Night As I already discussed about it earlier, so why is this still said not to cut nails at night. This myth belongs to that times when we used lamps or candles to lighten up our house at night and at that time we didn’t have nail cutters to cut our nails. Sharp objects like blades/knives or stones were used to cut. Such sharp objects can cause serious injuries if used in low visibility such at night, therefore it was advised not to cut at night. And what about doing it inside the house? The cut nails can prick into someone’s foot and can cause pain. Offering prayers to some plants In India we conside...

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