All work and no play

Megha Bhatt / TNN / Mar 31, 2006, 23:25 IST

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A career in sports in Gujarat is still considered a pastime of the rich or a last resort of the poor.

A career in sports in Gujarat is still considered a pastime of the rich or a last resort of the poor.
Children take to sports almost like fish take to water. It's a little surprising then that so few youngsters from this state are making sports their career choice, in an era when, unlike in the past, a host of sports are promising a decent job and big money --apart from the obvious fame and glory, advert contracts and newspaper reports that follow almost automatically.
"There are very few kids who are interested in taking up a sport as a career option. The fear of failure is huge. Everyone can't be a Sachin Tendulkar or a Sania Mirza and the career span is also short.
Parents force them to concentrate on their studies," says Father Fernand Durai, principal of St.Xavier's High School in Ahmedabad. He adds,"We provide good infrastructure to motivate students and also hold inter class matches. But, students are only in love with cricket as India has not done so well in other sports."

But sadly, let alone choose it as a career, playing a game even in the evenings is a difficult task for most children. Radhika Iyer, principal of Udgam School says, "Sports is there in the curriculum but at the end of the day, we are an academic institution."
So should the government take an initiative? "Like in western countries, the government should encourage and promote sporting activity among students and promote it as a career option.
...There are many students who do not excel academically well but can make a career in sports if the proper facilities are available," says Dhiraj Jogani, principal of M K Higher Secondary School and also the Treasurer of Gujarat Cricket Association.
Agrees Pruthvish Pandya, father of Pruthvi Pandya, a state skating champion: "Scholarships and awards can motivate them to give their best. Parents who are not sound financially, find it tough to even think of risking their children's career by encouraging them to take up a game. So free education should be given to talented individuals. The government and sports associations should take a lead."
Shobhana Peethambaran, Principal of Asia Primary School, explains, "sports such as swimming and table-tennis are gaining momentum. Parents are keen to let their wards take up these games."
But whether this means a Sania Mirza, Geet Sethi or Samresh Jung is just round the corner, only time will tell.

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