Grass roots needs seeds

When around ten athletes had lost and more than a hundred were still in the fray in Rio, Indians had almost lost their breath and given up. This was one of the unfortunate lessons in India about the Olympics.

Individual sports are not looked at collectively while collective sport is not viewed individually. Sports in India cannot move forward because the baby is expected to walk when it has still not begun to crawl.

Shooter Bindra in one of his interviews said: “There is no grass root in India.”  Grass roots are where it all is supposed to start and for that start to happen, the seeds are required. We cannot expect grass or its roots when the seeds are yet to be sought to be laid.

The foundations can be laid when the surface is solid. The problem with us in India is – the foundation is always fluid. Favouritism takes centre stage in most places and the good is sacrificed to cronyism. So, talent is snuffed at inception and what we get is morsels .And, morsels never make for a good meal. Filling the stomach and feeding a stomach is not the same.

If, many of us in India began to give up hope before the battle could even really commence it is because most of us are aware of the malady that inflicts sports in India- gross favouritism. We know it and that is why we are right in our pessimism.

The problem with us in India began before we could even leave. Wrestling had to be settled by a court and the manner in which it was done was in itself ridiculous. That was the signal something is ailing sports in India. Instead of confronting it, shortcuts were formulated and the wrong doers – if there were any- were left to go scot free with an opportunity to strike again.

Grass roots are the only way forward if our intentions are laced with honesty. The purpose should be to allow the best to survive. It does not matter who the best is or are. As long as the best are acknowledged, best results will come.

And, it is always not necessary that the best wins because the best in India may not necessarily be the best in the world. As long as an individual gives his all, that is the best expected from him. What is gold for one may be silver or bronze for the other. What is important is that they all stand together as winners.

Respect. Trust.  Truth. In sports, for one to prosper, all these elements and more have to participate. This is where grass roots start.