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An article by Lakshmi Menon
Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Olympics Gold Medal Match!
Neeraj Chopra bags a silver medal in Javelin Throw!
These news stories ruled all headlines in the past month, bringing multiple emotions to Indians. We united for the heartbreak and celebration of our country's pride. Olympics 2024 was an emotional whirlwind for all. This made the BeTales team curious regarding the current sports culture in India.
Being one of the people harmonizing factors, sports have always inspired humankind from a very ancient time onwards. When it comes to sports, India is a hotpot of interests and opinions. We have seen loyal fans who stick with their team even after match-fixing rumors, and there are people who sent death threats to the team captains because they lost a match. The media engagement should also be focused when it comes to sports representation too, as we can only watch the sports that are telecast.
Plus vs Minus
+1 : All Hail Cricket and Football:The words that first come to mind when thinking about sports are cricket and football. The interest in sports like cricket and football has not diminished at all. The ardent fans of cricket are still increasing even after generations. Tournaments like IPL, ISL, and Pro Kabbadi intrigued the interest of the viewers and gave opportunities to the young talents to experience a professional environment.
-1 : Cricket dominance: It is not a secret that Indians are obsessed with cricket. The media, government, and investors have overemphasized cricket, neglecting other sports. It is true that our team is one of the strongest in world cricket, but ignoring other sports is a cruelty towards hard-working players.
+2: Government initiatives: We have seen government initiatives in recent years to promote sports throughout India. Programmes like Khelo India, launched in 2018 by Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, former Sports Minister of India, aiming to revive the sports culture and establish India as a sports nation, have contributed to the development of sports by inculcating sports and health-related values in youth.
The Fit India Movement introduced in 2019 has also encouraged people nationwide to adopt a healthy lifestyle by including physical activities and sports in daily life.
-2: Limited infrastructure and Lack of Funding: There are not equipped fields and tracks even in many popular schools when it comes to sports, and this completely dissolves when it comes to rural areas. The athletes and teams are not funded properly for their training, and the government shows hesitance in setting aside a budget for sports development programs.
+3 : Diversity and inclusivity: Sports like wrestling, boxing, and archery are gaining popularity across regions. As the popularity is increasing, the youth being ready to take up the sport also increases. The participation of India in sports like golf and fencing is noteworthy. Shubhankar Sharma and Gaganjeet Bhullar represented India in men’s golf at Paris 2024. Bhavani Devi is the first and only Indian to qualify for the Olympics in fencing at Tokyo 2022.
-3 Gender & regional disparities: Like any other field, gender inequality is also present in the sports world too. Women's sports are often overlooked, underfunded, and underrepresented. It is also important to discuss how sports development is uneven across states and regions. We can see the northeastern states have deep interest in sports compared to the other states.
The sports culture is always undergoing changes. We have a long way to go while comparing with other international countries like China or Japan. Read full 5 points in our magazine BeTales Sept 24 Issue. Contact 9496431582 to read
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