Categorization of games raises questions

Rajesh Dhar
JAMMU, Apr 17: The initial draft of the Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Policy needs lots of changes before its final approval by the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, who happens to be the president of the Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council.
The changes apart from many other things are must in categorization of games, if at all, the Government is really keen to promote sports in nooks and corners of the State. Otherwise, the initial draft of the Policy has raised questions with regard to categorization of games.
Sources said that as per the draft, the J&K State Sports Council aims at categorizing various sports disciplines under Olympic and Non-Olympic Charter on the basis on present performance at State and National Level, status and popularity of the games at district, province and State level, so as to draw line between good, bad and worst and extend incentives/ awards to outstanding sportspersons.
However, contrary to that, the games have been classified in category A, B and C in Olympic and Non-Olympic Charter without considering the status, popularity and performance at the State and the National Level.
In Olympic Charter, the draft has put Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Volleyball, Football, Hockey, Wrestling, Handball and Table Tennis in Category A, while Gymnastics, Basketball, Rifle Shooting, Rowing, Judo, Swimming, Weightlifting, Kayaking and Canoeing, Skiing and Fencing have been put in Category B which simply is not justified as the State has a good record in most of the games in Category B with regard to winning medals at the National and International scene. These games include gymnastics, fencing, skiing and kayaking etc.
Similarly, in Non-Olympic disciplines, as many as eight games in the list of thirteen games put in Category A have hardly any record at the National Level, not to talk of the International Level, while a few games placed in Category B and C, despite having good record at the National Level have failed to find berth in Category A.
For that matter, the office bearers of many Sports Associations in the State have raised questions over this proposed draft and have alleged manipulation by the heads of some Associations, having access and approach for taking decisions and making policies.
It is pertinent to mention here that as per the Sports Policy of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, the games have been placed in three categories of Priority, General and Others, with games producing medalists at Olympic, Asian and Commonwealth Level in Priority Category, while those disciplines which do not fetch medals, yet are placed in the list of top eight games have been put in General Category and the games not affiliated to Olympics and allied events find place in Others.
The experts believe that the Categorization of games in J&K Sports Policy ought to be analogous to that of the Sports Policy of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.
The J&K State Sports Council claims that it is simply an initial draft of the Sports Policy and after receiving suggestions from various quarters, there is a scope for the amendment of the same to be sent to higher authorities for final approval.
When contacted, Dalip Thussu, Secretary J&K State Sports Council said that after receiving suggestions from the experts and enthusiasts from the sports fraternity, a threadbare discussion will be held with the members and the final draft will be prepared, keeping in mind the popularity, status and performance of the game.
“Only those games will be given preference, which deserve a place in the priority list, without taking into consideration as to who runs the Association and how influential the office bearers are? The performance at the National scene will be a priority agenda,” added Thussu.

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