From glory to shame, Kerala's fall at National Games

The 14th position in the 38th National Games that concluded yesterday in Uttarakhand is a source of great sadness, disappointment, and shock for Kerala. Kerala has always been a role model for other states in the field of national sports. The shameful defeat faced by Kerala this time was not just the shortcoming from the part of the contestants. The Uttarakhand Games have given a clear picture of how much our systems are failing in identifying and nurturing talent and how much other states have progressed in this regard. This is the first time in history that Kerala is out of the top ten in the National Games medal list. Kerala won 54 medals, including 13 gold, 17 silver, and 24 bronze. In the last National Games in Goa, Kerala was fifth with 87 medals, including 36 gold, 24 silver, and 27 bronze.

Kalaripayattu, which contributed 22 medals, including 19 gold, in Goa, last time was made an exhibition event this time instead of a competition event. Although Kerala's loss can be attributed to this to some extent, it should be noted that Kalaripayattu was a competitive event only in the last National Games and not in any of the previous ones. Kerala's performance this time was nowhere near what it had achieved in the years prior. Even without Kalaripayattu, Kerala achieved second place in the 2015 National Games, winning 162 medals, including 54 gold. In the 2022 Gujarat Games, Kerala won 54 medals, including 23 gold, without Kalaripayattu.

Swimming, which won five gold medals this time, helped to secure Kerala's current position. However, Harshita Jayaram, who won three gold medals in this, was born and raised in Bengaluru. That training excellence was what helped her out. The State Sports Council was the one who went to the court to file a case to prevent those teams who won gold and silver in volleyball this time in Kerala from participating in the games. The volleyball teams partook in the present Games with the approval from the court. However, the Council refused to provide jerseys, kits, or even plane tickets to these volleyball teams, which the other teams have received.

The Council, out of its arrogance and desire to prove that it was superior to the Kerala Olympic Association, declared the Kerala team's team leader (Chef-de Mission) on its own, but the Indian Olympic Association did not allow it. It took revenge by insulting the Chef-de-Mission and Deputy Chef-de-Mission appointed by the Olympic Association by not providing them with travel expenses or Kerala jerseys. Yet the team led by Olympian Sebastian Xavier stood by the Kerala team the entire time without any hesitation and provided the necessary assistance. It is worth thinking about the fact that even states like Manipur, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi have surpassed Kerala in the medal tally. Kerala should learn from these states in terms of providing basic facilities and finding new talents. It has been months since the hostels where Kerala's budding sports athletes are given training were given their food allowance. The grants to go for national competitions are also pending.

The salaries of the permanent employees of the council are in arrears for three months, and those of the temporary employees are in arrears for four months. The council was unable to collect the government funds allocated for the preparation of the National Games on time. The sports minister is not paying attention to these matters. The government is not trying to take advantage of the fact that P.T. Usha, the pride of Kerala's sports, is the president of the Indian Olympic Association and is not efficiently developing various sports projects. The Kerala Olympic Association has come out publicly against the sports minister and the council. Other associations are also taking similar stances. The government is busy making laws to regulate sports associations. The question is, will there be any sports left here when the law is passed?