Gearing up for Tokyo 2020, the Sports Ministry has launched a host of initiatives for aspiring sportspersons aged 8-14 years, in a bid to tap and groom potential talent. In an exclusive interaction with Malini Menon, Sports Minister Vijay Goel answers queries of students, teachers from across India on how the ministry is introducing new policies, plans and setting the stage for potential Olympic medallists.
How are you promoting sports in schools at the grassroot level?
Shreya Seth, Class XII, Venkateshwar School, New Delhi
Live portal is a new initiative. All these years, there has been no such window of opportunity for aspiring sportspersons. This is an initiative that has been taken by the sports ministry to target all those children with potential living in B towns, villages (gaon, mohalla, kasbas).
There is no appropriate mechanism to nurture talent at school/ district levels. What initiatives are you taking up?
Abira Sarkar, teacher, GGIS, Pune
The idea of a portal came up when an MLA approached me with a talented child saying that he was turned away from the stadium by the guard. I figured out that there would be so many such children. This is when the idea of the portal came into my mind. In this portal, talented children can upload their videos and present it to us. We will go to them.
The other initiative targeting schoolchildren is that we are launching 1,000 scholarships of Rs 5 lakhs each for the next eight years.
There is a lack of open playgrounds in the city. Where do we go and play?
Sumedh Bhasin, Grade 7, Bangalore International School
One of the major problems we have is that cities don't have open spaces. We are looking at this seriously and have thought of a solution-we want all schools to open their playgrounds after 2 pm. This has not happened yet but talks are on with the DDA in Delhi and later, will be followed in other states too.
We are also opening more playgrounds in villages since we find potential sportspersons coming largely from the rural areas and also, because they are deprived of facilities that are available in cities.
We would like to know why can't have we have a sports hour daily in schools? Our district Idukki has produced many sports personalities, including Olympian KM Beenamol.
Etheena S Thania, Class IX, Eastern Newton School, Adimali
We are closely working with the Human Resource Development ministry to link sports with education. We are looking at either making sports compulsory in schools or having compulsory periods marked for sports and start evaluation in sports as a subject. We have already formed a committee which will look into how this can be implemented immediately-within the next one or two months.
How are you tapping indigenous talent?
Madhuri BV, Class X, Soundarya School, Bengaluru
To promote indigenous talent, we are conducting Grameen Khel Mahotsav in New Delhi and plan to carry this forward to the rest of the country. We know that we get maximum sportspersons with potential from villages and B towns, especially tribal areas, and therefore, now we are trying to tap the potential.
Where do you think we need to change in terms of policy/ plans?
Tanay Toshniwal, Class X, St Therese Convent School, Dombivli
Another point to be noted is that sports is still a state subject. Hence, it is the primary duty of the state to broaden base of sports and promote them. It is the responsibility of the federations to push and promote talent. Despite this, we are trying to take it out of the state and put it in concurrent list.
Don't you think there should be more transparency when it comes to federations?
Chhavi Damani, class XII, Rachana School, Ahmedabad
We are keeping a close watch on the federations too to ensure more accountability and transparency. We are appointing observers, who are porfessionals for the same.
Why is it so difficult for students to see sports as a career option?
Jayabala Girish, teacher, Shri DJ Doshi Gurukul Junior College of Commerce, Mumbai
Sports was primarily considered for health and fitness. It is now that people are looking at it as a lucrative profession and in fact, even associating success in sports with medals earned. This is one of the reasons why the government has rolled out a slew of initiatives.
How are you ensuring jobs to sportsmen?
Hari, Teacher, Bhavan's Varuna Vidyalaya, Ernakulam
To ensure that all our good sportsmen get jobs, we have written to all ministries to provide them with jobs. Currently it is up to 4%, we have told them make it up to 3% but compulsory.
If you look at the sporstpersons who are at the national and international levels, they all are well placed and recruited. Whoever has performed, has earned a recruitment.
Why isn't there a scientific technique adopted in coaching?
Bhargav Deka, Class XII, Podar International School, Ahmedabad
What the sports ministry is doing now is that we are zeroing-in on previous players and training them in coaching. This way we are not only recruiting but also ensuring that sporstpersons get a good coach. The old players will get a diploma in coaching so that there is professionalism.
Shouldn't there be a dedicated university to sports?
Asavari Singh, Class 11, Indus International School, Pune
We are going to open a National Sports University in Manipur. It will open in two-three months.
We have also identified around 20 colleges, 10 universities where we will introduce sports science as a subject. The National Sports University will have a variety of graduate and post-graduate courses in which students can pursue sports. The university will cover various disciplines of sports and is looking at partnership tie-ups with the Australian and UK universities so that we can provide best infrastructure to students. This way, we plan to nurture talent and bring them to international standards.
How prepared are you for Tokyo 2020?
Dishannesha Mukherjee, Class XII, St Stephens, Kolkata
To ensure preparedness, we created a taskforce for 2020, 2024, 2028 Olympics and sought their recommendations. Based on this, we have decided to follow the report and implement the suggestions.
We are looking at CEOs efficient in sports administration be appointed for federations. We are also appointing 'observers', who would be professional players, and will monitor the training and coaching process.
How do plan to popularise other Indian sports besides cricket?
Harini MS, Class XII, Nagarjuna Vidyaniketan, Bangalore
Khelo India programme has been initiated with the plan to give a boost to the infrastructure across the country, to tap the talent by hosting various competitions. Through Khelo India, we will bring in a new revolution in sports in the country. For Commonwealth Games, we have already started preparing. Even for Tokyo 2020, our task force is ready with recommendations that will be implemented soon.
For Under 17, FIFA world cup again, we are looking at it as a big opportunity. Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to promote all sports other than cricket, we are reaching out to football aspirants in 15,000 schools --reaching out to nearly 11 million kids in six cities where the tournaments are taking place.
Do you think there is gender parity in sports?
Shubranshu Dutta, Class XII, DPS, Ahmedabad
All the players-be it a man or a woman, the ministry will provide facilities to everyone. For every player, there is a budget allocation. We recently conducted a seminar for all women sportspersons and we have also promised all our women players, an environment of safety and security. We see parity everywhere. We do not see any differentiation.
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