While the quest of practically every Western teenager is to have false ID proving that he/she is 21 (and, therefore, over the legal drinking age) Indian sport is faced with quite the opposite scenario.
Rarely discussed openly, changing one's date of birth (to make oneself appear younger) is one of the rampant scourges of Indian sport at the junior level. As money increases for juniors, the under-22 quota in the new Indian Premier League being a case in point, the incentives can only get even more skewed to fudge youngsters' ages. It all begins in school when overzealous parents, coaches and selectors request a "change of age" -- to be reflected in the admission register and in forged birth certificates (available for a song, or maybe even just a verse) -- so that their ward can be made to play one extra year in the under-14's/16's.
What this shortsightedness leads to is Indian sportspersons being pitted against much younger opposition at the junior level. These "juniors" rarely transition to success as seniors, and for quite obvious reasons.
Ever wonder how India has so many international junior champions and our under-15 and under-19 cricket teams regularly win tournaments while we have little success at the senior levels? Well, the answer might lie more in the birth certificates than in the scorebooks. 3 or 4 year age differences are huge at junior levels.
Sport builds integrity. It commands integrity, too. For the good of Indian sport, it is time to look to the future and stamp out these indiscriminate age-related practices with an iron fist.
Wednesday
Indian Sport v. 2.0 – Time for Brawn Drain?
Born in the late ’70s in small-town Bangalore, I grew up around super-achiever, engineering-graduate uncles and cousins who moved to the U.S. where most of them still live and work. Indian engineering graduates of the late 20th century India were trained and groomed in an economy that did not have ready opportunities to challenge and utilise their exceptional talents.
I find a striking resemblance between ’80s Indian engineering and today’s Indian sport. Currently, local sporting talent lacks the supportive environment needed to convert the unmistakable potential into international quality performances.
Over many a pre-dinner conversation, one could lament the state of Indian sport, the lack of Olympic medals from a billion-plus population, the decrepit facilities, the red tape, the financial burdens on athletes and so much more. On the other hand, one could work towards transformation by taking a leaf out of the book of lessons of our country’s tremendous IT success.
In retrospect, brain drain was one of the best things that happened to today’s Brand India. While the economy worked its meandering way towards a supportive business environment, many highly qualified IT professionals left the system, insulating themselves from the obvious frustrations inherent in transition economies. As an unintended consequence of this process, we now have a re-imported workforce able to contribute international experience and implement the highest standards. Local entrepreneurship, innovation and value creation are no longer pipe dreams and nor should remain Olympic medals and national honour through exceptional sporting success.
Just as an engineering talent requires a challenging job profile, access to training resources, good management, job security and growth prospects, so does a high-quality athlete. Let’s face it, we are at least a couple of decades behind international standards when it comes to identifying, training and managing our best athletes. While we work on a multi-year plan to introduce and improve state-of-the-art sporting infrastructure and professional institutions, we can’t let existing talent stagnate and wither away. Today, we are ready for a mass export of our best sporting talent to foreign systems that are capable of nurturing and encouraging them.
A simplistic representation of the 30-year IT talent cycle would read something like this: best local talent is identified and exported; government intervention is diminished; local institutions and opportunities improve; best local talent is retained; local institutions and opportunities mature; previously exported talent is attracted and re-imported; entrepreneurial opportunities are created; global talent is attracted; international competitiveness and standing results. In IT, this virtuous cycle may have been unplanned and the good consequences unintended, but it does serve as a model that has worked for Indian talent. Clearly, we are currently in a fast-paced economy and there’s no reason why a well-conceived cyclical plan for sport should take as many as 30 years to implement.
So, what’s the need of the hour? An IIT-JEE style recruitment and selection process, an IIT-type subsidised/funded grooming system and an effective export of the best Indian athletes. The most precious teenage sporting talent needs to be identified and filtered at the mass scale in both rural and urban India and made ready for export. This grooming process must be done with sensitivity as culture shock, self-confidence and detachment from family are not easy issues to deal with for young Indian athletes. Then, be it through government or private financial intervention, the talent must be packed off to U.S., U.K., Australian and other international universities and sporting systems for training, conditioning and competition. This approach will not work without mass funding but, at the same time, presents an enormous opportunity for the private sector to lead.
Sporting icons and heroes generate huge economies around them as do the Narayana Murthys and the Premjis of the IT world. Our country needs many more non-cricket sporting icons such as Prakash Padukone, Leander Paes and Vishwanathan Anand to inspire and encourage its youngsters. To be the best, athletes need evolved platforms and stages on which to grow, compete and perform. With this in mind, we must develop capabilities locally by investing in and building training facilities and resources, tournaments and leagues and professional management institutions that will increase the size of the talent funnel and provide opportunities to showcase talent. Once in place, this will help retain our sporting talent, will re-attract much of our exported talent and eventually attract global athletes to our shores. As in IT, we can be at the absolute top of the sporting ladder.
Sport evokes feelings that little else can. It has the ability to hold us in thrall, to uplift and to unite. Sporting achievement is a matter of national pride, of a Brand India where the physical is spiritual and where pushing one’s limits is the norm. A mature economy supports varied talents and lends structure to careers of all sorts. While we do the fundamental work on Sports Brand India, in the near term we need a systematic “brawn drain”. And, someday soon, “India Everywhere” will be both at Davos and at the Olympics.
I find a striking resemblance between ’80s Indian engineering and today’s Indian sport. Currently, local sporting talent lacks the supportive environment needed to convert the unmistakable potential into international quality performances.
Over many a pre-dinner conversation, one could lament the state of Indian sport, the lack of Olympic medals from a billion-plus population, the decrepit facilities, the red tape, the financial burdens on athletes and so much more. On the other hand, one could work towards transformation by taking a leaf out of the book of lessons of our country’s tremendous IT success.
In retrospect, brain drain was one of the best things that happened to today’s Brand India. While the economy worked its meandering way towards a supportive business environment, many highly qualified IT professionals left the system, insulating themselves from the obvious frustrations inherent in transition economies. As an unintended consequence of this process, we now have a re-imported workforce able to contribute international experience and implement the highest standards. Local entrepreneurship, innovation and value creation are no longer pipe dreams and nor should remain Olympic medals and national honour through exceptional sporting success.
Just as an engineering talent requires a challenging job profile, access to training resources, good management, job security and growth prospects, so does a high-quality athlete. Let’s face it, we are at least a couple of decades behind international standards when it comes to identifying, training and managing our best athletes. While we work on a multi-year plan to introduce and improve state-of-the-art sporting infrastructure and professional institutions, we can’t let existing talent stagnate and wither away. Today, we are ready for a mass export of our best sporting talent to foreign systems that are capable of nurturing and encouraging them.
A simplistic representation of the 30-year IT talent cycle would read something like this: best local talent is identified and exported; government intervention is diminished; local institutions and opportunities improve; best local talent is retained; local institutions and opportunities mature; previously exported talent is attracted and re-imported; entrepreneurial opportunities are created; global talent is attracted; international competitiveness and standing results. In IT, this virtuous cycle may have been unplanned and the good consequences unintended, but it does serve as a model that has worked for Indian talent. Clearly, we are currently in a fast-paced economy and there’s no reason why a well-conceived cyclical plan for sport should take as many as 30 years to implement.
So, what’s the need of the hour? An IIT-JEE style recruitment and selection process, an IIT-type subsidised/funded grooming system and an effective export of the best Indian athletes. The most precious teenage sporting talent needs to be identified and filtered at the mass scale in both rural and urban India and made ready for export. This grooming process must be done with sensitivity as culture shock, self-confidence and detachment from family are not easy issues to deal with for young Indian athletes. Then, be it through government or private financial intervention, the talent must be packed off to U.S., U.K., Australian and other international universities and sporting systems for training, conditioning and competition. This approach will not work without mass funding but, at the same time, presents an enormous opportunity for the private sector to lead.
Sporting icons and heroes generate huge economies around them as do the Narayana Murthys and the Premjis of the IT world. Our country needs many more non-cricket sporting icons such as Prakash Padukone, Leander Paes and Vishwanathan Anand to inspire and encourage its youngsters. To be the best, athletes need evolved platforms and stages on which to grow, compete and perform. With this in mind, we must develop capabilities locally by investing in and building training facilities and resources, tournaments and leagues and professional management institutions that will increase the size of the talent funnel and provide opportunities to showcase talent. Once in place, this will help retain our sporting talent, will re-attract much of our exported talent and eventually attract global athletes to our shores. As in IT, we can be at the absolute top of the sporting ladder.
Sport evokes feelings that little else can. It has the ability to hold us in thrall, to uplift and to unite. Sporting achievement is a matter of national pride, of a Brand India where the physical is spiritual and where pushing one’s limits is the norm. A mature economy supports varied talents and lends structure to careers of all sorts. While we do the fundamental work on Sports Brand India, in the near term we need a systematic “brawn drain”. And, someday soon, “India Everywhere” will be both at Davos and at the Olympics.
Friday
National Sports Policy - comments
In what was likely a first, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports provided the public an opportunity to comment on its Draft Comprehensive National Sports Policy 2007. This is a great first step in fostering accountability and transparency in our sports set-up.
Here is our go at comments provided to the Ministry. Hope many more members of the public have given the Ministry their inputs because I don't think they can expect too much to emerge from the IOA or any of the sports federations.
Any feedback or discussions on this would be most welcome because it's about time these issues are the subject matter of public debate.
Here is our go at comments provided to the Ministry. Hope many more members of the public have given the Ministry their inputs because I don't think they can expect too much to emerge from the IOA or any of the sports federations.
Any feedback or discussions on this would be most welcome because it's about time these issues are the subject matter of public debate.
Wednesday
BCCI v. ICL
A few thoughts in this article on the significance of the BCCI v. ICL battle.
It will be interesting to see how things pan out over the next few years.
It will be interesting to see how things pan out over the next few years.
Monday
India's Draft Sports Policy
Here is a copy of India's Draft Comprehensive Sports Policy 2007.
In a first, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has put this on the internet and has solicited public comment (due by August 25, 2007).
This policy document will shape how our country approaches sport in the coming years and the transparency of this new approach from the Ministry must be appreciated.
Comments to:
Shri I. Srinivas, Joint Secretary (Sports), Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Room No. 504-B, B Wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi-110001, e-mail – isrinivas@nic.in, Fax No. 23384152.
In a first, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has put this on the internet and has solicited public comment (due by August 25, 2007).
This policy document will shape how our country approaches sport in the coming years and the transparency of this new approach from the Ministry must be appreciated.
Comments to:
Shri I. Srinivas, Joint Secretary (Sports), Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Room No. 504-B, B Wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi-110001, e-mail – isrinivas@nic.in, Fax No. 23384152.
Wednesday
Virdhawal Khade receives boost
A big day for swimming in India with 15-year-old prodigy Virdhawal Khade signing a contract with the Mittal Champions Trust ("MCT"). Here is an article covering the event and below is the official press release.
A lot of work has gone into Virdhawal's training and the combination of his talent and single-mindedness, the efforts of his coach Nihar Ameen and his manager Hakim at GoSports, the support of his family and the funding from MCT will give him the best shot at achieving internationally.
Hope this will be the first of many good things to come for Indian swimming.
A lot of work has gone into Virdhawal's training and the combination of his talent and single-mindedness, the efforts of his coach Nihar Ameen and his manager Hakim at GoSports, the support of his family and the funding from MCT will give him the best shot at achieving internationally.
Hope this will be the first of many good things to come for Indian swimming.
Contact:
Hakimuddin Habibulla
GoSports India Pvt. Ltd.
Mittal Champions Trust to Fund Swimmer Virdhawal Khade
Bangalore, Karnataka, July 3, 2007 -- In a big boost for Indian swimming, the Mittal Champions Trust has committed to financially support 15-year-old national swimming champion, Virdhawal Khade.
Virdhawal will be the youngest swimmer to represent India at an Olympics when he takes the plunge at the 2008 Beijing Olympics next year. He is currently one of the fastest swimmers in the world for his age in the 100m and 200m Freestyle events.
MCT will cover the bulk of Virdhawal's expenses essential for him to be at the peak of his discipline. It will aid his preparation for the 2008 Olympics and continue to support Virdhawal in his quest for a 2012 Olympic medal.
Virdhawal, who hails from Kolhapur, currently trains in Bangalore at the KCR Swim Centre under coach Nihar Ameen. Nihar Ameen, who was the Indian coach at the 2004 Athens Olympics, identified Virdhawal’s talent and asked him to move to Bangalore, which is the hub of Indian swimming. Nihar Ameen says of Virdhawal, "He is an unbelievable talent and the MCT funding will help him establish himself on the world map".
Manisha Malhotra, the administrator of MCT was excited about having Virdhawal on board. “The Mittal Champions Trust believes in that Virdhawal has the talent and potential, and we are happy to be able to give him the push he needs to get to the pinnacle of his sport”.
His career manager from GoSports, Hakimuddin Habibulla, who represented India in swimming at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, has the following to say about the young champion, "Virdhawal has the will and the build to be a World champion. He is currently the fastest in the world for his age and deserves to get the best to remain at the top. The support from MCT means that Virdhawal will now have access to the best training and resources".
When contacted, Virendra Nanavati, the Secretary General of the Swimming Federation of India, was delighted to know that MCT has come forward to support Virdhawal and believed that this was a positive step for all of Indian swimming.
Virdhawal was obviously very pleased with the support extended by MCT. "I’m training very hard and enjoying my swimming. I have a strong team backing me and now with MCT's funding I feel confident of doing my best.”
About GoSports
GoSports is a sports management and consulting company based in Bangalore. GoSports works with the country's most talented sportspersons on translating their potential into performance.
About MCT
The Mittal Champions Trust is a non-profit organization set up by Mr. Lakshmi Mittal to promote sporting excellence in India.
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Tuesday
Lawyers and Indian sport
Some thoughts here on the increasingly important role that lawyers will have to play as the Indian sporting industry matures.
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