Last Updated on August 23, 2024 by theviralsportsindia
In the last few years, talent and potential of athletes representing India on big stages have been higher than in earlier days as we witness some transformation happening gradually across disciplines. Yet to be able to hold that mantle of sporting superpower, India must fix a few major issues — those which have been pointed out by some of the country’s most elite athletes. | A Sporting Powerhouse
Sunil Chhetri on Grassroots Development
Sunil Chhetri, the captain of India’s football team and one of its finest athletes, felt that grassroots development is essential if India harbours ambitions to be a sporting nation. India should be a sporting nation and we need to develop sport from the base according to Chhetri. We should consider giving all children as many opportunities to be coached, facilities and the chance to compete in sports from a young age. This will enable us to identify and develop talent at an earlier stage, so they are ready for success on the biggest stages.” | A Sporting Powerhouse
THE IMPORTANCE OF GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT : Chhetri has put a lot of emphasis on the importance of having some sort system in place that identifies talent from an extremely young age, nurtures it through considering every individual case needs and getting them to compete at all levels possible. At the heart of most successful sporting nations is a robust foundation in well-organised grassroots competitions. The programs also offer early exposure to sports as well as creating a love for physical activity and healthy competition. To achieve such a success rate in India would be of course going to solve, for which we have started think tanks with common people as urban and rural informal programs. | A Sporting Powerhouse
Grassroots Development – Key Actions:
Infrastructure Investment:- Invest in building and up-keeping of sports infrastructure across schools, colleges & community.
Coaching Excellence – Coach Education and SAQ Skills Department for the training of coaches on how to better coach young athletes.
Talent Identification Programs: Developing a set of scouting protocols across the board to identify early potential talent.
School Sports Programs: Making the sports a part of school curriculum so that every student can play on regular basis.
It is fair to say that, the brand Virat Kohli does a lot mayright due attention here for his Contribution toward Sports Education and Holistic Development of an Individual.
Global sports personality and former captain of the Indian cricket team, Virat Kohli is a proponent for amalgamating sport with an educational pursuit. It is not just about winning medals, but it’s also a culture of inclusion and making sure sports in an integral part of learning as well personal development. Sports need to have the same respect, resources and facilities in schools and colleges. This will enable young athletes to build their physical game, as well lacrosse IQ while equipping them for the inevitable “roller coaster” of sports and life.” | A Sporting Powerhouse
Kohli’s words highlight once again the need for an equal emphasis on sports education. This can also include sports integrated within the framework of education where literally students will learn by playing and this helps children gain essential life skills such as teamwork, leadership qualities which are not limited to just winning or losing; but what we call resilience. In fact, it supports physical fitness which is essential for general health and well-being. | A Sporting Powerhouse
The near future of Sports Education Key Registrar Actions:
Yes, Sports should be a part of school or college curriculum and that is considered as Curriculum Integration.
The plans: Facility Development – Make sure schools have good sports grounds and Infrastructure development
Physical Education Training: Offering training specific to Physical education teachers.
Athletic Scholarships: Athletic scholarships and incentives for students who perform really well in them. | A Sporting Powerhouse
india: What India should do to become a sporting superpower – The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)
PV Sindhu : Adequate funding and support
An Olympic medalist PV Sindhu (considered to be one of the best badminton players in India), also points out importance given to funds and well wishes. Talking about the challenges faced by Indian athletes, especially in niche sports she said: “Lack of funding and support is one of them. There needs to be an influx of government and private sponsorship for the construction of sports infrastructure both for building playgrounds, betterment in training facilities ranging from good coaches being available around right at schools (it is their responsibility) to athlete welfare programme. This is to make sure our athletes have the tools they need to compete and win on all fronts.” | A Sporting Powerhouse
The experiences of Sindhu and others highlight the financial limitations faced by athletes. ResourcesThese funds will also allow us to provide quality training facilities, well experienced coaches and take care of the financial aspect so that athletes can just focus on their game. | A Sporting Powerhouse
Imperative Series for Resourcing and Staples of Dak Support:
Government Investment: To enhance the budget on sports development.
PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP: Tax breaks and partnerships that will attract the private sector to invest in sports.
Athletes Welfare Programs: Provision of Funds, Healthcare and Career Advisory to Athletes.
Grants and Scholarships: Grants, scholarships for upcoming scholars who are exceptionally good at certain sports expecially the less popular ones. | A Sporting Powerhouse
Mary Kom: One for Gender Equality in Sports
Olympic medalist and six-time world boxing champion Mary Kom speaks out for gender equality in sport. India has come a long way supporting women’s sports, however there is still room for improvement as Pooja Dhanda says Women are the Future of India” It means that we must strive to give female athletes access, opportunities and empower them across all sports. It will not only encourage the next generation of young girls but also challenge stereotypes and contribute to a more inclusive sporting culture. | A Sporting Powerhouse
Kom ‘s vocal battle for gender equality also serves as a stark reminder of how female athletes are far too often shortchanged. Access to facilities, coaching staff and competition is essential to foster elite talent among women while structuring cultural inclusivity. | A Sporting Powerhouse
What We Must Do for Gender Equality:
EQUAL FUNDING: Women’s sports should receive equitable funding and resource allocation.
Encouraging positive female role models to showcase avenues for young women
Train the coach/official: Conduct gender sensitivity training to create a conducive environment for female players.
Policy: Implementing gender inclusive sports policies at all levels of organization. | A Sporting Powerhouse
SAINA NEHWAL: LEARNING TO CO-EXIST IN A COMPETITIVE ECOSYSTEM
Olympic medallist and leading India badminton player Saina Nehwal talks about the importance of having competitive ecosystem Explaining, “While medal winning success is crucial but we need a competitive environment” to compete with each other. This means investing in talent development programs, both locally and abroad – domestic competition is not enough to upskill our athletes; more international exposure would always be beneficial for them. | A Sporting Powerhouse
This quote by Nehwal will give you an insight into the competitive environment in excellence. Playing against good competition on a regular basis is what helps athletes, not only in becoming more skilled players but also opens their mind to different styles of play and mental challenges as well. | A Sporting Powerhouse
Key Actions for a Competitive Ecosystem:
Talent Development Programs – Creating academies and centers of excellence to nurture young talent.
Domestic Competitions: Conducting regular domestic competitions in different sports disciplines to enhance the competitive exposure.
Providing Opportunities to compete in international tournaments and Training Camps.
Coaches: Advanced Training & Staff Coaching Coaches will have the necessary professional development opportunities to be able to best direct athletes.
In this context, some of the key challenges or opportunities are
A roadmap to becoming a sporting powerhouse can emerge from the plethora of insights these top athletes have given, but only if many challenges are properly addressed. These range from bureaucratic impediments, to the lack of coordination among sports bodies and socio-economic constraints over accessibility on many Indian children for games.
However, there are also many opportunities available. These are trends that can go a long way in capitalising on what is already a very good set of circumstances as far as building sports culture back homego, ku and some confidence. | A Sporting Powerhouse
Conclusion
The above statement has a universal connect – if we dissect the content, its basis can be rooted in any sport and India aspires to become a sporting superpower. Through encouragement towards generating development from grassroots, intertwining sports with education, providing enough fund and support to the concerned bodies in charge of nurturing talents, admitting gender equity as well as building a competitive convergence that will yield healthy competitions amongst its athletes. Sunil Chhetri, Virat Kohli, PV Sindhu, Mary Kom and Saina Nehwal amongst others give direct advice to help you get closer to this target.
As India strives for glory in different sports, it is important to tackle the obstacles and ensure that we take full advantage of the openings on offer to develop a sporting culture. This will not only do India proud but also motivate millions of young Indians to chase their dreams and make the country proud in sports. | A Sporting Powerhouse
