Someone, somewhere must step in and rid sports federations of politicians and businessmen, who are holding Indian sports to ransom. They are causing more harm than improving the standards in our country that is struggling to make a mark in the highest echelons of international sports — the Olympics. It is no surprise that the Supreme Court on Thursday observed the politicians and the businessmen heading sports federations in India are causing more harm than good and must make way for sportspersons to take over.
“It is a sad commentary that people who are administrators of the game have nothing to do with sports and they run the bodies at the cost of the game,” observed a bench comprising justices T S Thakur and J Chelameshwar in a case involving the hockey federation. No wonder India is struggling to qualify for the Olympics in hockey. But this is true for almost all disciplines. Abhey Singh Chautala (INLD) is least bothered about lifting the suspension imposed on the Indian Olympic Association by the International Olympic Council.
Anil Khanna, a businessman, is heading the All India Tennis Association and the players had to revolt early this year to get more recognition. Indian Archery Federation, derecognised by the Sports Ministry, is being headed by BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra. He is one of the longest serving sports administrators in the country but has done little to lift the ban that was imposed by the ministry for not adhering to the Sports Code. Though the Sports Ministry has been doing its bit through the implementation of the Sports Code, it is struggling to rid national sports federations of politicians. It is not a surprise that the IOA is still suspended because the only thing the officials think about is retaining their posts. This is the perfect opportunity for the ministry to rid federations of selfish politicians and businessmen.