Rajesh Dhar
JAMMU, Feb 10: Minister for Sports, Moulvi Imran Raza Ansari’s statement on the other day that efforts are on to make Jammu and Kashmir ‘Sports State of India’ is though like a cherry on cake for the entire sports fraternity of the State, yet for making this dream come true, there is a dire need to curb the jaundiced policies of sports hijackers of the State and eradicate them from the sports community.
Though, from a last few months, it is observed that the State Government, especially the sports ministry is all focused in encouraging the budding sportspersons of the State by awarding, rewarding and giving them incentives, apart from raising the sports infrastructural facilities in State, yet to make the State real sporting hub, the need is to curb the activities of the sports captors who befool the budding sportspersons by involving them in invalid and unrecognized sporting activities.
According to the reliable sources, there are so many unrecognized Organizations and Associations, which are holding sports activities illegally and marring talent.
Sources said that these Associations involve big number of youth in various sports activities and make them play outside the state, claiming that these teams/players have represented the State at the National and even International scene, throwing the norms of the elitists Sports Bodies-the J&K State Sports Council and J&K Olympic Association into the winds.
Sources further said that these illegal Associations, which are being run by the sports hijackers have immensely degraded the importance of the word ‘International’ as they have their own Federations, which pick the budding sportspersons at their (players’) own expenses and make them play in Invitational Tournaments, claiming big haul of medals at the International scene.
“How humiliating is it that the players’ from a particular area or a particular institution are picked in the (so-called) State teams, without holding competitions at district, division or State levels. And after participating they claim that they have represented the State at the highest level,” said a SAI coach while expressing anonymity.
Sources said that sports captors pick players from unrecognized games to outside the State and after returning back they claim that they have won medals at the Internationals, not to talk of the Nationals, thereby weighing down the significance of International events.
“There are around eight sports disciplines recognized in Martial Arts, but around 20 disciplines in the same are taking part in National level competitions,” sources added.
It is pertinent to mention here that some sportspersons participate in the Invitational International events at their own and not at the cost of the Government and are being honoured at par with the outstanding sportspersons, who burn midnight oil in blossoming at the International level.
No-doubt, from last six months, the Jammu and Kashmir Government is striving hard to carve a space on the Country’s sports map by raising the infrastructural facilities and encouraging outstanding sportspersons by absorbing them in Govt jobs and giving them incentives for their brilliance, yet curbing the nefarious designs of the sports captors is the need of the hour.
When contacted, Minister for Sports, Moulvi Imran Raza Ansari said that the Government is committed to promote sports and games in nooks and corners of the State, adding that the priority will be given to the medal winning sports disciplines.
The Minister further said that the Government’s aim is to make Jammu and Kashmir a sports hub, adding that a comprehensive sports policy is in offing and it will take around six months to witness sea change in State’s sports field.
Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra when contacted by EXCELSIOR said that the quantitative sports activities will go on, but we have to focus on qualitative sports disciplines and sportspersons, adding that the unrecognized disciplines will be thoroughly screened and scrutinized for the betterment of sports in the State.
“The scrutinizing committee will be headed by Deputy Commissioner Jammu, who is also Chairman of the District Sports Council, Jammu,” Parra added.
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