Indian basketball: Government tries to pose hurdles, to support illegal faction !

Indian basketball is trying to dribble past the numerous hurdles. Most of it is, self imposed.

The players are in the background, watching the tussle, while the officials, not exactly known for their dribbling skills, are attempting to assert their authority and efficiency.

There are two teams, and only one is following the rules. The other is driving towards anarchy. Imagine an F1 race in which one driver forgets the rules and goes berserk !

The pity is, authorities supposed to impose the rules, have forgotten the rule book. The Indian Olympic Association is a classic example. For it, there is only one team. It did not bother to send an observer for the meeting of one of the factions. It did not waste much time in recognising the other group.

The IOA does precious little for Indian sports, except complicating matters as it has done in a variety of sports disciplines over the years.

The Union Sports Ministry which keeps bringing up the Sports Code, as if it is the bible for Indian sports, does not even bother to refer it, when it becomes inconvenient to do so.

The latest communication from the Sports Ministry to the two factions of Indian basketball, one legal and another illegal, is a classic example of how the whims of fancies of the Union Sports Minister, can dictate the administration of Indian sports.

We pinpoint the Sports Minister because the communication from the Under Secretary to the Government of India, makes it very clear that ''this issues with the approval of Hon'ble MOS(I/C) YA&S''.

The bottom line is, ''the Ministry is not in a position to give recognition to either faction at this stage''.

Maybe, the Sports Ministry is waiting for a more suitable time, when the matter could become more complicated.

The Ministry quotes the IOA recognition for one faction, and the FIBA approval for the other faction. The biggest question doing the basketball circles in the country is, why is that the Sports Ministry which had sent its observers to both the meetings, in Bengaluru and Pune, is not able to take a decision. Also, why is it that it does not refer to the order of the Delhi High Court which allowed the faction elected in Bengaluru to go ahead and function as the BFI.

Fortunately or unfortunately, everyone knows the answer. The hands of the Sports Minister are tied. He is not able to take a decision against a fellow Member of Parliament, Poonam Mahajan of Maharashtra, who has declared herself as the President of the BFI. With the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BFI, Roopam Sharma calling the meeting and holding an election for which she had no legal authority, one faction is actually walking on thin ice. It is a matter of time before it sinks.

However, it wants to put up a face saving exercise with suitable support from the IOA and the Sports Minister.

There is something called the Constitution. If we don't respect that, there will be anarchy. The faction led by Poonam and Roopam, has utter contempt for the Constitution of BFI, as well as the directions of FIBA.

Thus, despite categorically being told as to which was the legal BFI by the FIBA which runs basketball world wide, the faction has continued to claim affiliation to FIBA, FIBA-Asia etc. This despite being warned for earlier illegal actions.

Now, why does the government want both the factions not to act ! It is because, FIBA has asked the BFI to conduct the SABA championship, basically featuring the SAARC countries. The BFI chose to hold it in Bengaluru from July 3 to 5. The originally selected players have been called and the trials would be held to select the team.

As per the advise of FIBA, BFI has looked at all the units, without any discrimination in terms of choosing its panel of selectors, officials etc. However, the leadership of the illegal faction has not been able to digest the turn of events. So, as a last ditch attempt to skittle the event, and thus the process of recovery, it forced the Sports Minister to issue a letter.

''Both factions are advised not to hold any official event in India, and not to use the logo of this Ministry or Sports Authority of India until office bearers of BFI are recognised by the Government'', the letter says.

Can the factions hold official events abroad ?! Is the BFI recognised, and only its office bearers are not recognised ? Of course, the Sports Ministry has no authority on the subject. That is why it is only advising. It has every right to tell the factions not to use the logo of the Ministry or SAI.

It may be a subtle hint, not to antagonise the Sports Ministry, but there may also be an attempt to stop the units that have BJP government, from fielding their players.

What a shame ! The officials are there to ensure the welfare of the players, not to spoil their career. But rarely do officials care for sports persons in India.

Why blame them ?! Do the players care for themselves, as a community? Together they will be a force that can run the sport, in a healthy way. But, there is rarely any unity among sports persons in India. That is how the officials are able to get away with their autocratic and mostly illegal ways.

It is a sad turn of events at a time when Indian basketball was trying to stand firm on its feet with sponsorship support to the tune of about 10 crore rupees every year, from IMG-Reliance. When novices, with little interest about the welfare of the players, take the law in their hands, and are supported by the government, you can only expect chaos.

For most of us who rejoiced at Olympic silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore getting elected as a Member of Parliament and then being sworn in as the Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, it is a stark realisation that in Indian sports, things only go from bad to worse, no matter who rules !

The reality is that Sports Ministry backs those power-hungry people, who have no legal foundation, and shows scant respect for the Sports Code. It is a pity.