Shocking case of class bias in sports

There is definite class bias in Indian sports, very evidently there is socio-cultural as also compulsions of Market. But for the government to toe the line is shocking. This blogger believes that elected governments are dangerously being influenced by market which in most case accentuates class bias. Indian sport is a case in study.

Games like golf, lawn tennis etc get undue importance since it is inaccessible to millions of Indians. Golf is a case in study-arguably one of the dumbest game, it is one the costliest game with equipments and facilities costing lakhs of rupees (with a mission to put the ball in the hole!!). I am not against people who play the game but the importance these games get. The class bias is evident. In Indian context since very few people have access to these kinds of games they rarely do well in international forums. It is quite clear babalogs best is mostly appallingly mediocre in the international arena. This statement can be extended to most other field and a study on India’s contribution in the world. Whatever example we have like Paes, Nehwal, Bindra, Anand and many more is because of rare individual talent and persistence against heavy odds (very much in danger of co-opted by market greed. Guess what happened to Mirza). Even the recent better performances in over rated game (read cricket) have more to do with democratization of selection process. So we have more competent players rather than babbling sycophants from elite section who go on the knees when encounter white skins (read gentlemen). What defined them was mediocrity packed in well accented English (since then many have migrated to Market media and have taken up the cause of freedom. No knowledge no nothing just got to talk). Unfortunately these variety are still in majority/influential at the policy making level the reason why class bias still exists in sports. Consider the condition of games like Hockey, Kabaddi, wrestling, athletics and so on and analyze the people involved in these games. They are from lower strata of society for them sports is a mean to survival the reason why they tend to be competitive despite lack of basic facilities and bias (nothing explains Milkha Singhs and PT Ushas over the decades).

To win a medal in Olympics that too in highly competitive games like Wrestling or boxing is a tremendous achievement. This need to be understood and put in context. Sports like wrestling and boxing are played around the world unlike many games in Olympics that most people haven’t even heard of (one of the many reason why West end up wining so many medals). To compete with the best of the world (the world incidentally consists of 180 odd countries) in highly competitive sport and to come third is a tremendous achievement. Also consider that India has not won any individual medal in these sports in 60 odd years. Also consider the odds the players concerned had to go through. It is a kind of sport that has not much economic security in this society. What carried them through was pure passion for the game. Talented they were is proved by the medal they won. By not honoring these sports persons the government of India has erred quite badly. It also is a pointer to insensitive people at the helm. It is shocking state of affair.