The pain of our athletes must be addressed

The sixty-fourth state school sports meet ends amid the Qatar World Cup. Future sports men and women of India might be there in this sports meet. But what are the authorities doing for that. There are centers and trainers for the growth of sports sector.

However, the government are not aware about providing better facilities for training. There are news of children participating and facing big challenges to win prizes. But when we see the hard work of these children to achieve those victories, we feel like honoring them. This is a land from where international and national athletes took birth. When they come home after achieving medal we compete with each other to honor them. We must hang our heads in shame if someone asks how much are we doing to give good training to children from a young age.

We will feel sad if we check the background of many children who won victories at the sports meet. Our sports officials must be ashamed to know that the coach of Kothamangalam Mar Baselios School had to pawn his wife’s jewelry to buy pole vault for his students. It is on the strength of this sacrifice that one of his students Shivadev earned a gold medal at the sports meet. Even though there is government help for sports training what is the use if it is not received on time.

Students are able to participate in these sports meet and are able to showcase their talents because coaches like Madhu of Mar Baselios School are there for them. Examples like Kannan who makes money by driving a carriage and using the money for training students. Also, there is Girish who started Throw Academy to train students in throw events by the money he makes by running a gym. These and many others must be honored along with the victorious students at the sports meet.

Mekha who had to say goodbye to the track because of her life conditions was brought back to the track by Biswajith and other teachers of her school. She ran with the spike shoes given by her coach. She got first in the 100 meters senior girls’ section and paid her dues to her mentors.

Everyone will say that we must make great strides in children’s sports. However, our training places are the most ignored. Many are not able to get proper training because of the conditions at home. There are no one to provide the basic facilities for those who are into sports. Until we are not able to change this dismal situation there is no point in being proud of our sports growth.