Sports Ministry springs the best name for Khel Ratna, but who will give Arjuna award to Nirupama Sanjeev

The Union Sports Ministry has been spontaneous in recommending women's World No.1 doubles star Sania Mirza for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.

The credentials of the 28-year-old Sania, a rare phenomenon in Indian women's tennis, are just too good. She will enhance the stature of the award the way some of the earlier awardees, starting from Viswanathan Anand, Leander Paes, Sachin Tendulkar apart from a host of other stars had accomplished.

She has the maximum number of eight tennis medals from the Asian Games for an Indian player, as she started early with a bronze in mixed doubles with Paes in the Busan Games in 2002, when she was 15. Sania went on to win two gold medals in mixed doubles, with Paes (2006) and Saketh Myneni (2014) apart from a silver with Vishnu Vardhan (2010). She helped Prarthana Thombare to the women's doubles bronze medal in the last edition in Incheon. Another first for Indian women's tennis.

She was the first Indian tennis player, man or woman, to make the final of singles in the Asian Games, when she finished runner-up to Zheng Jie of China, after having outclassed future Grand Slam champion, Li Na 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals, in Doha in 2006. She added the individual bronze in 2010. Sania, along with Shikha Uberoi, helped the Indian team to the silver medal in Doha.

In the Commonwealth Games at home in 2010, she won the singles silver and doubles bronze. In Hyderabad, in the Afro-Asian Games, Sania had swept four gold medals in 2003.

On the professional circuit, in which she reached a career-best rank of 27 in singles, before focusing on doubles, following a series of injury break-downs, that demanded surgery, her achievements have all been very well documented, with the recent women's doubles title with Martina Hingis in Wimbledon, and three mixed doubles titles, at the Australian, French and US Open, the first two with Mahesh Bhupathi.

It is another matter that Mahesh, the man who won the first Grand Slam title for the country, the mixed doubles title with Rika Hiraki of Japan at the French Open in 1997; became the first Indian to be world No.1 even before his partner Leande Paes, made all the four Grand Slam finals in 1999, winning French Open and Wimbledon, won a few Davis Cup ties on his own strength, was not deemed fit for the Khel Ratna award. He has 12 Grand Slam doubles titles, including eight in mixed doubles.

Equally, the panel of eminent sports persons did not validate the candidature of Somdev Devvarman who has won the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold, apart from staring in many Davis Cup triumphs. He reached the best singles rank of 62, the best for an Indian man, since 23 of Ramesh Krishnan in 1985. Nobody was presented the Khel Ratna award last year, and that may have provoked the government to spring an unmatched candidate, easily recognised by everyone.

It is equally glaring that Nirupama Sanjeev who was the first Indian woman tennis player to make an impact globally, not just by reaching the second round of Australian Open in 1998, but with a courageous run in the professional circuit, around the world on her own steam, when she threatened to break into the top-100 even before Paes could do so, has not been given Arjuna award. Nirupama still has the best Fed Cup record for the country at 29-14 for most total wins, and 20-8 for most singles wins.

Of course, the other Nirupama of Indian tennis, mother of Davis Cupper Harsh Mankad, and wife of cricketer Ashok Mankad, Nirupama Mankad, had been conferred the Arjuna award (1978-79), for winning the national championship seven times.

There has been no Arjuna award for Indian tennis after Sania was presented the honour in 2004, except for Somdev in 2011, when he was actually over-qualified for it! Equally, there is not a single Dronacharya in Indian tennis. Quite ironically, Akhtar Ali, who had been coaching Indian tennis teams from the time when Ramanathan Krishnan was part of them, was not presented the Dronacharya award, but the Arjuna award in 2000.

Akhtar's son, Zeeshan Ali, who last played for India in Davis Cup against the US in 1994, was presented the Dhyanchand Award for life time achievement last year.

Coaches like Nandan Bal and Enrico Piperno have contributed to dozens of medals and the performance of top players like Paes, Bhupathi and Sania over the years, but have not been given the Dronacharya award. Or for that matter, the former Davis Cup captain Jaidip Mukerjea who was with Paes as the coach in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, did not get the coach's honour.

Much in contrast, Sushil Kumar and Mary Kom have been able to produce many Dronacharyas in recent years.

The government had been proactive once earlier, and played the trump card in nominating badminton ace Saina Nehwal for the Khel Ratna award in 2010. While it has sprung to life now for one of the best sports stars of the country, the question is what stops it from attempting to set the record straight in so many other cases, and render certain credibility to the awards.

Union Sports Ministry, yes to doping, no to sports !

One thing that I have constantly noticed with the Union Sports Ministry or for that matter its arm, Sports Authority of India, in recent times, is that they do not follow what they preach, with great authority.

Both have such wonderful public relation exercise now that they get away with murder, without batting an eyelid.

And one news that has been doing the rounds recently, by turn in various newspapers, pertains to the inevitability of the dope-tainted coach Yuriy Ogorodnik of Ukraine, guiding the Indian women's athletic relay team for the Rio Olympics.

The coach is 79 years young. The government triumphantly claims that it had cleared the coach six months back. What happened to its policy ?! What happens to the sports code, and the age eligibility criteria ?

If the office bearers of a national federation become incompetent, as per the understanding of the policy makers, once they reach 70 years of age, how does the competent authority expect an athletic coach, who works on the ground, to be energetic and eligible at 79.

The officials cannot escape with a claim that the rule does not apply to a coach, for they were instrumental in stopping the services of the pistol coach Tibor Gonczol, precisely with the same policy.

The Hungarian coach settled in Australia, Tibor changed the face of Indian shooting once he took over in 1993. His prodigy Jaspal Rana won the junior World Championship gold in standard pistol Milan in 1994 and went on to clinch the only gold medal for the country in the Asian Games in Hiroshima in centre fire pistol, the same year.

Even though he was only a pistol coach, Tibor, who died in January 2014, used to address all the shooters whenever required, instilled the best qualities and put them on the path of success.

I recall quoting Jaspal Rana, Samaresh Jung and Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, when they paid tributes to the genial coach on his death.

‘’He gave life to Indian shooting. It was his effort and vision. Unfortunately, it was very sad that we disowned him when we started getting the good results internationally’’, said Jaspal.

When the SAI did not renew his contract and told him that he was overage, Tibor used to wonder how India was being governed by politicians in their 80s. A valid question for which nobody had any convincing answer.

‘’During the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, I sought his help when I had a problem with my pistol a day before the centre fire pistol match. He arranged a pistol for me then’’, said Samaresh, who had won the David Dixon award for the ‘best athlete’ of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006, with a clutch of gold medals.

‘’He was the first person to bring in knowledge and put Indian shooting on the right path’’, said Abhinav Bindra.

Once when the customs officials questioned a box of pellets used in air weapons, while clearing the Indian team at an airport, Tibor chewed a pellet to prove that it was not ammunition!

For ten years after he had ceased to be the coach of the Indian team, Tibor Gonczol continued to guide the shooters, who sought his advice, through email and phone. When Jaspal Rana won three gold medals in the Asian Games in Doha in 2006, he was in constant touch with the coach on the phone.

The point is that we quoted the rules for such a great coach, and we are bending it so energetically and with such conviction for a coach who was instrumental in trapping so many of our athletes in the dope web, purely because of his ''negligence''.

The simple question is, when the government is footing the bill, why is that the athletic federation not able to find a competent coach with a good background and record !

Enough about government's mission on anti-doping. Let us move to its more recent inclination that is anti-sports !

Rarely can there be an example when a national sports federation seeks judicial intervention, against the government's ``advice'', to ensure the conduct of an international event.

The overwhelming bias of the Union Sports Ministry towards an illegal faction of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) was evident when it issued an order, making it clear that it was under the direction of the Union Sports Minister, ''not to hold any official event in India''.

The BFI rightly called it ''unnecessary, illegal and arbitrary''. The Karnataka High Court, in its interim stay on the government letter categorically asserted that the communication ''shall not be treated as a bar for considering issue of visa to players and officials to participate in the tournament''.

The South Asian Basketball Association (SABA) championship was successfully conducted in Bengaluru from July 3 to 5, with the Home Ministry being prompt in giving clearance for Visa etc., even before the court could give its direction.

Now the Sports Ministry has conveniently asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) which did not even bother to acknowledge the legal faction, to sort out the issue. The Sports Ministry often finds it convenient to fire from someone else's shoulder.

When the watchdogs are sleeping peacefully or willingly barking at the wrong party, it is difficult to keep the authority on the right track.

It was a classic case of reporting in the country's best-sold newspaper, when the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the BFI got away questioning the ''locus standi'' of the president of the BFI, whose faction has been approved by the international basketball federation (FIBA), after it had studied every aspect.

Democracy gains its strength by respecting the Constitution. Otherwise, it would be anarchy. Any breakaway group, without the Constitutional backing, deserves little sympathy, even if it is headed by God.

Who can make the IOA or the Union Sports Ministry see this basic principle of good governance !

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.

Indian basketball, in an unholy mess !

''Power does not corrupt men, fools, however, if they get to a position of power, corrupt power. ---George Bernard Shaw.

Indian basketball is in a mess. The foreign experts have returned home because there was a fear, among other things, that the federation may not pay their salary or pay rent for their accommodation.

The same federation had been meeting their expenses to the tune of about a crore and a half of rupees in a financial year, earlier.

It is not a question of the federation suddenly running short of money. There has been enough of it thanks to the overwhelming support of IMG-Reliance, a real lifeline to Indian basketball.

The money has frozen, because of the dispute in the federation. With two factions claiming control of the federation, the bank account has also been frozen. IMG Reliance has refused to pay the quarterly instalment in April, till clarity was reached about the legality of BFI.

It has meant no salary for the staff of the federation, no petrol for the vehicles, and some of the payment made towards the conduct of the Federation Cup in Pune, not being cleared as the cheques reportedly bounced.

From a time when the Indian team showed signs of life when it beat the mighty China in the Asian Championship, Indian basketball has plunged into despair. All this, because of something as simple as choosing the venue for the Annual General Meeting.

Officials who do not even bother to be present in the National championship wanted to be present in strength in Pune for the Federation Cup, meant only for the top eight teams in the country. They wanted the AGM to be in Pune, and not in Bengaluru, after having agreed for it.

There was nothing wrong either in trying to have Pune as the venue, or bring a novice in sports administration like Poonam Mahajan, a Member of Parliament in Maharashtra, as the president of the BFI. But, the Constitution of the BFI needs to be respected, and procedures followed.

If the faction headed by the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the BFI, Roopam Sharma, was sure of its majority, which it was able to flaunt, perhaps because it was believed to have the money and political strength, what stopped it from winning the election in Bengaluru. Why is that they could command the majority in Pune, but were perhaps not so sure of it in Bengaluru. Maybe, it is because even a crocodile is powerless when it comes out of water.

It was a primitive scenario, where the man with the stick, claims the buffalo ! ''Jiski latti, uski bhains''.

With the vested interests, trying to usurp power, in a hurry and in an illegal fashion, the game has been shaken. Even though there is no proof of it in the open, except claims, the international basketball federation (FIBA) has refused to recognise both the factions, headed by K. Govindaraj and Poonam Mahajan. Worse, it has announced that no Indian team would be able to compete internationally till the issue was resolved.

In such a bleak scenario, the much maligned Indian judiciary has shown a guiding light by acknowledging that the faction headed by K. Govindaraj which was elected in Bengaluru on March 27, had the constitutional power to move ahead and discharge its duties.

Honestly, it was a simple situation. The outgoing president had the authority according to the constitution to call for the election and decide the venue and time. More importantly, the former CEO was offered the key post of the secretary general of the federation in the new team.

It is an old story that after having accepted Bengaluru and March 27 as the place and date for the AGM, and communication had been initiated accordingly by the then secretary general Ajay Sud, the CEO unilaterally started issuing circulars stating that Pune would be the venue and the AGM would be on March 28.

The attempt was to strengthen the federation with political influence, but the stark reality is that the stupid exercise has taken the life out of the game in the country. What a shame.

While the uncertainty of the international federation could be understood, as so many factors had to be taken into consideration before a national federation was recognised, the reluctance of the Union Sports Ministry and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to see what is right and wrong, has been tragic. Both had the powers to douse the issue at the start itself, if they had wanted to respect the constitution, and proper procedures. But, both turned a blind eye towards the issue.

The joke doing the rounds is that both organisations that claim to carry the Olympic Movement forward, are blind in both the eyes, when it suits them.

At a time when IMG Reliance was pumping about 10 crore rupees into Indian basketball every year, it is tragic that the game in the country has hit the reverse gear because of selfish attitude and narrow minded approach.

As always, George Bernard Shaw was brilliant, but he perhaps overlooked the possibility of women claiming equal rights, in the modern era !

Sailing fraternity aghast to find novices figuring in TOPS

The sailing fraternity has found gaping holes in the selection of
athletes for the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), and has
questioned the liberal funding for novices through the scheme that is
meant for the best of the elite athletes.

While most of the leading sports persons in various disciplines are
just about getting the funds from the government scheme, in which selection is
supposed to be ''purely on merit'', two sailors who have got into the
Olympic boats in the 49er class only recently, have been drafted into
the scheme.

The two sailors, Varsha Gautham and Aishwarya Nedunchezhiyan, had won
the bronze medal in a field of six countries in the Asian Games in
Incheon last year, but in the 29er class, which does not figure in the
Olympic fleet.

The duo had a reality check in the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Miami,
early this year when they finished last among 40 teams, in the 49er
class.

In the World Championship in Santander, Spain, last year, Varsha and
Aishwarya had placed 53rd among 55 teams. It was also a qualifying
event for the Rio Olympics.

Subsequently in another World Cup in Abu Dhabi in November, the pair
finished 17th and last.

The Olympic field in the 49er class is supposed to have 20 countries,
and ten of them have already qualified from the World Championship in
Spain.

The Indian pair is supposed to be eyeing one of the 10 spots from
among 23 countries likely to be in the race for Olympic qualification
in the event.

While conceding that they were not against the young sailors getting
support, which helped them being based in Europe and compete regularly
in international events, the seasoned sailors questioned as to how
the two sneaked into a scheme that promised podium in the Olympics, at
the expense of more deserving classes.

Probing further, it has been pointed out that the men's 49er class has
also been supported by the government, and one of the two sailors in
that category happened to be the son of a council member of the
Yachting Association of India (YAI).

The two men, Ganapathy Kelapanda and Varun Thakkar, had also struggled
to avoid the last spot in the World Cup in Miami in January this year,
and placed 56th out of 58 boats. In the World Championship last year,
they were 77th out of 80.

While mysteriously keeping out such outstanding sports persons like
Leander Paes, Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza, who have very realistic
chances of winning medals in the Rio Olympics, perhaps because they
are globe-trotting millionaire tennis players, the government has
apparently played into the hands of wily schemers who have taken it
for a nice sail, in pleasant sea breeze !

Indian tennis needs to revive a strong under-18 circuit and strengthen the events for men and women

We all tend to appreciate the value of something, more in its absence.

Not many were willing to discuss the Indian under-18 tennis circuit, till it was banished from the calendar for 2015.

Suddenly a lot of people draw your attention to the absence of the under-18 circuit, in an otherwise robust junior calendar. You also quickly realise that after the abolition of the Indian domestic circuit for men and women many years ago, this was another retrograde step.

It is like removing college education and then taking away even the option of higher secondary, for the student community. Just imagine what we would be left with.

There is absolutely no doubt that in a vast country like India there should be thousands of tennis courts available for public, and a number of tournaments that would sustain the enthusiasm of the players at all levels.

By focusing only on the elite who play at the international level, tennis has become a product for the elite market in the Indian community. It is a shame.

Considering the cost of playing the game, and considering a small thing as the cost of stringing a racquet which can easily be Rs.1000 depending on the quality of string you choose, the number of tournaments offering Rs.50,000 as total prize money, is indeed a poor reflection of Indian tennis. Now, they have introduced tournaments offering Rs.30,000 as total prize money.

When the players joined hands and asked the All India Tennis Association (AITA) to have more tournaments offering Rs.2.5 lakh prize money, instead of Rs.1.25 lakh, about two decades ago, the whole domestic circuit was taken away from them. The lack of unity among the players, and the precious little that the players body has done after having been revived some time back, has been a big let down for Indian tennis.

The likes of Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza and Somdev Devvarman can make Indian tennis healthy, by inviting corporates to support a strong domestic circuit. It has to be conceded that Sania Mirza has a tennis academy against her name with world class infrastructure and a promise of world class coaches and trainers.

Nearly two decades ago, Gadgil Western Group (GWG) ran an Indian circuit with an investment of one crore rupees every year. Coach Nandan Bal had played a significant role in roping the sponsor for the benefit of tennis in the country. It ran for just a year and a half, before lack of returns saw the title sponsor who was supporting about 22 tournaments a year apart from the Satellite circuit international tournaments, abruptly pull the plug.

Today, considering the $430,000 ATP Tour event in Chennai, a few Challengers including the one offering $125,000 total prize money for men and women in Delhi, a number of international events for men and women, offering $10,000 to $25,000 in prize money, apart from the ones handling millions of dollars like the International Premium Tennis League (IPTL) and the Champions Tennis League (CTL), it should not be difficult to find a purse of about six crore rupees and run a healthy domestic circuit for men and women. Instead, we have Rs.50,000 events, and a few more events that offer prize money ranging from Rs.100,000 to Rs.500,000.

The problem is that if we mock at the small events, even they may vanish from the calendar, as nobody makes a noise. What we are attempting is to show the disparity. The millions of dollars are being pumped into international tennis and precious little for domestic tennis.

From that point of view, I am happy to hear the voices of anguish in the tennis fraternity about the absence of the under-18 circuit in the country. A brainwave was the reason behind removing the circuit by the end of last year.

The argument was that players after turning 16 should directly be competing in the events for men and women. Wish they had plenty of that, at least.

Even for entries into the ITF junior events, the players need their national under-18 ranking, if they don't have international rank. Thanks to Pakistan hosting two of their ITF junior events in Delhi last year, we nearly had a dozen ITF junior tournaments. But for a country of the size of India, it offers limited opportunities.

Moreover, not many can pay $65, about Rs.4,000 as entry for an ITF junior tournament, if they know that their chances of crossing the first qualifying round is not great, that is if they manage to get entry.

Also, when players want to join colleges in the US, or elsewhere, the national under-18 rank plays a significant role in securing their admission, apart from tennis scholarship.

Now that the Indian calendar, which had more than 100 national ranking tournaments for the under-18 group last year, does not have one, aggrieved people point at the study by the ITF that a 17-year-old should play about 32-38 tournaments in a year, with an aim to have 80-90 singles matches, and about 35-55 doubles matches.

Earlier, we used to wonder why our juniors, ranked in the top-10 of the world, were not able to break into the top-100 in the men's and women's rankings. Now, it has been a struggle to have juniors in the top-100. Only the likes of Sumit Nagal, Pranjala Yadlapalli and Mihika Yadav have that status at the moment.

Somehow, we have got our equations totally wrong. The main reason is that tennis has become an exclusive sport. Only the rich can play the game, and the coaches never tire of stating that those kids lack the hunger to work hard and excel. The fact is, the talented kids don't even get a chance to touch a racquet, except through some honourable ventures like the one run by Chandigarh that taps rural talent.

Thankfully, I do hear that there was a meeting during the Fed Cup in Hyderabad, when world No.1 doubles star Sania Mirza led India from group-II to group-I in the Asia-Oceania zone, in which it was decided to revive the under-18 circuit. Already, almost half the year has run out, and it is high time that the authorities swung into action promptly to put things in place.

If India wants to boast of the second highest number of tennis players after the US, which a study might have projected as a strong possibility, there is an urgent need for thousands of courts with different surface and hundreds of tournaments, catering to all levels, around the country.

Delhi does conduct a lot of events, but Maharashtra has set a fine example by roping in a title sponsor to support hundreds of its events at all levels with cash and kind. Many other units may have their own little ways. But, in a country as big as India, it is quite disturbing that there are tournaments for men and women, offering a total prize money of about 60 lakh rupees, just about $100,000, if you study the AITA calendar for this season.

Thomas Bach, the visit of the IOC president bares Indian sports

Flying kites is a national entertainment. The colourful kites decorate the sky, particularly adding to the charm of the festive atmosphere. The focus even during such an enjoyable exercise, is cutting each other ! There may be enough space in the sky, but the joy is in having a dominant presence.

The idea of hosting the Olympics in 2024 was one such attempt at kite flying. There was so much excitement associated with the visit of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach and his meeting with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi that it became a foregone conclusion that the discussion between the two leaders would be about India bidding to host the Games.

As the IOC president put it succinctly, the IOA was still ''finding its feet'', after serving the suspension. It had to regain its focus on improving the success of the Indian athletes in the international arena, especially in the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016. It had to first achieve ''unity in diversity''.

Yet, it was clear that it was not the IOA but the government which was keen to probe the possibilities of making an Olympic bid, from the reports emerging on the subject. Otherwise, it was difficult to explain the reported visit of the secretary of the Union Sports Ministry to the IOC headquarters in Lausanne along with the IOA president to invite Thomas Bach to India.

Even though it was easy to jump to conclusion about the intent of the government, it has to be remembered that Thomas Bach has already met more than 100 heads of State among the 205 member countries of the Olympic Movement, after becoming the IOC president in September 2013.

Maybe, the concerned parties wanted to strengthen the idea that Indian sport was a ''sleeping giant''. And it required the expertise of the IOC to find ways to awaken the sleeping giant. Whatever it may be, the message from the IOC was clear.

In the press conference that he addressed in Delhi after meeting the Prime Minister and before he hurriedly left the country, Thomas Bach did not utter a word about India hosting the Olympics till a question was raised on the subject.

''Of course, we were aware of the speculation. We were surprised for different reasons. It was a little bit too quick for India to have a successful Olympic Games in 2024. We were asking the question. The Prime Minister is sharing the same opinion'', said Bach.

What was clear was that the PM was surely looking to organise the Games but knew that such a venture required the government to be ''well prepared'' and that it was a ''bit difficult'' to propose a successful candidature by September this year.

''We will stay in contact for the future. For 2024, we share the same opinion'', clarified Bach.

What emerged from the dialogue was a tripartite agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), between the Union Government, the IOA and the IOC for the benefit of Indian sports.

''It was a constructive, good day. It was great to be back, first time as the IOC president. It gave us the opportunity to welcome again IOA, after the suspension ended last year. We had the opportunity to discuss the future of Indian sports that is bright'', said Bach.

First things first. India has to focus on athletes and help them fare better in international events, by providing them the best support in terms of training and coaching. The focus has to be on ensuring their qualification and participation in the Olympics in Rio next year.

''Athletes are at the heart of the Olympic Movement'', reminded Bach.

''One year after suspension, the IOA is still finding their feet. They first need to discuss and find their way for future success and how best to support athletes'', said Bach.

A solid foundation, from the assessment of Bach, was laid to address all the issues.

To move forward, different stakeholders need to recognise their responsibilities and fulfil them. First and foremost, the IOA has to respect its revised Constitution.

''Meeting the Prime Minister was excellent. It gave us an opportunity to express our appreciation of the Prime Minister and the Indian people for the exemplary way in helping Nepal with such a humanitarian spirit. We are full of admiration for the Indian government and the Indian people. IOC will assist Nepal when it comes to rebuilding the sports infrastructure and the Olympic Movement, after this tragedy'', said Bach, as he admired the spontaneous support of India for Nepal after it was ravaged by earthquake.

Coming back to Indian sports, Bach admitted that the Indian Prime Minister was well aware of sports being the key to building a strong society.

''The PM is very much determined to promote sports. He knows the value of sports in education and its role towards a cohesive society. In sport, all are equal. It is a great uniting force. You look for personal achievements by respecting the common rules'', said Bach, even as he talked about ideas of making sports mandatory in the educational system and making physical activity a must for all kids.

''The PM is clear that he would use all his authority and dynamism to wake up the sleeping giant. The IOC will be happy to assist. With a population of 1.2 billion people, and 80 million of them youth, India has a huge potential, in particular in sports. India could be a powerhouse in sports'', he said.

The IOC will assist in terms of coaching, technology for the athletes, and by providing training for administrators and coaches. It will also attempt to support Indian sports through the world wide Olympic television channel that is in the process of being launched.

In theory, there is never any dearth of words to support autonomy of sports.

''The Prime Minister is very much in favour of autonomy. Autonomy not just in sports but in the whole society'', Bach observed.

It may be recalled that it was because of government's intrusion into sports that India was kept out of the Olympic Movement for more than a year.

''The Prime Minister has invited us to have one of our future meetings here in India and to keep bilateral contact with him. We appreciate both invitations. It was a very good day for sports in India. We are looking forward to a strong Olympic team from India in the Olympic Games in Rio'', said Bach.

Moving on, Bach said that good governance and autonomy were two sides of the same coin. He indicated that with the agreement of last year, mutual respect had clearly been achieved, and the Prime Minister had expressed great satisfaction.

''We saw improvement (in the IOA), but need to improve more. There is a new constitution. It has to work. Everybody has to respect. I am very positive. The message got across'', he said.

When asked whether the IOC was aware of the undercurrents in the IOA, and that there was a ''no confidence motion'' brewing right in front of their nose, Bach said that he was not aware of it, but was quick to add that it was ''not new to India''.

''Even without knowing, we were sending the message and the appeal for unity. The motto of my presidential campaign was Unity in Diversity. It fits well with the IOA. Diversity makes India so rich. The IOA, national federations, State Olympic committees, they all need to focus on the athletes, make athletes successful and find unity among yourselves'', he said.

Unfortunately, in Indian sports, the athlete is the last and least in priority, while unity is a distant dream.