Shrinking Space For Sports

By: Feb 17th, 2018 12:41 am

Himachal This Week Team

Himachal has won four medals in Khelo India school games, thanks to outstanding performance by state’s sportswomen. They won three medals in individual events while kabaddi team bagged gold medal. The hilly state has numerous possibilities to shine in sports field but, ironically, playgrounds are shrinking in various towns. At many places playgrounds are used for non-sporting events like recently witnessed in Mandi, Sujanpur and Dharamshala. Knowledgeable persons feel that Himachal needs to protect its big grounds besides strengthening sports infrastructure and facilities for promotion of sportspersons and development of sports in this hilly state.

IG Office in Police Ground

Under construction IG office in Subhash Chander Bose Ground is not a political issue concerning BJP or Congress but is directly connected to common people in Dharamshala. Locals protesting the encroachment of the ground have threatened to approach the court on the issue besides demanding shifting of police colonies and offices to nearby Sakoh. Locals are agitating construction of IG office by demolishing basketball court in the ground. They have also urged elected representatives to side with people of Dharamshala to save the ground.

                                                -Naren Kumar/ Dharamshala

Shivratri Festival in Paddal Ground

Shrinking Chougan of Sujanpur

Sujanpur’s historic Chogan ground is shrinking due to its continuous use for non-sporting events. Once spread over 544 kanals, this ground is restricted now to only 350 kanals with both the state and Centre using its different parts other activities. The state government has constructed kala manch while the Centre has also constructed swimming pool for Sainik School in this ground. Controlled by the administration, every section of the society, including locals, institutes and others, avail facility of the ground.  It generates annual resources of about Rs. 1 crore with Holi Mela being the major source but the Chogan ground lacks basic facilities.

Himachal Lacks Sports Environment

Himachali girls have won few medals in Khelo India games but the state was placed at 20th position in the medal tally. Thanks to young ladies who brought at least some laurel for the state. Himachal can excel in this field as three sportswomen won medals in individual events whereas kabaddi team won gold medal for the state. Chamba’s Seema won gold in athletics, Sundernagar’s Komal won bronze in wrestling, Rampur’s Maneka won bronze in boxing and kabaddi team won gold medal. These achievements should be viewed in the backdrop of Sports Authority of India and state sports hostels located in different districts.

However, it also indicates towards a prevailing lacuna. Two big grounds in this hilly state were experiencing non-sporting events when the country was marching ahead on it Olympics campaign. The stage was being set for Shivratri fair at Paddal ground in Mandi and historic Subhash Chander Stadium witnessed encroachment by the police in Dharamshala. Many sportspersons have won national and international medals but Himachal faltered in honouring them. It is a social shortcoming that sports environment could not be created in this hilly state that has provided patronage to rural sports. Chhinj bouts are held during annual fairs in every village where wrestlers pocket handsome prize money. Barring exception of Ghumarwin, these competitions did not get permanent patronage for encouraging local talent.  Himachal needs to look at rural and school games in the new perspective while the big grounds need to be protected in addition to strengthening infrastructural facilities. At least three complexes need to be upgraded in every sub division besides developing community grounds in every village and town. Participation in area specific sports should be ensured through SSA.  The corporate participation had increased as sports infrastructure was expanded during Dhumal government’s tenure in the past. New opportunities in sports can be explored through active participation of corporate, banking and power sectors. Sports complexes and training centres need to be established and state departments like police, forest and power corporation should lay more emphasis on sports. Dharamshala has emerged as the main centre for cricket and athletics training and Sports Authority of India has completed formalities for establishing an excellence training centre here. The police ground should be developed into a big sports complex for holding national competitions. Academies can be set up for training in different sports besides establishing sports college and sports authority. Himachal Pradesh University should also organise summer camps.

A national level complex for winter ice skating can be established near Manali as Anchal Thakur and Shiva Keshvan have proved their mettle in international sports arena. Similarly, a para gliding school at Bir-Billing and water sports training centre in Nagrota Suriyan college should be established. Jai Ram government can make a blueprint for exploring possibilities by constituting an advisory board having sports trainers, supporters and former players as its members.

‘Process To Recruit 71 Coaches Underway’

Himachal This Week’s Tek Chand Verma talked to Sports Department’s Joint Director Suman Rawat on various aspects related to sports infrastructure and training facilities in Himachal. Following are the excerpts of the interview:

HTW: What are the plans to enhance sports infra structure?

Suman Rawat: Modern infrastructure equipped with facilities will be created to promote sports and sportspersons. Play fields for different sports will be prepared besides expansion of sports hostels equipped with Wi-Fi facility.

HTW:   Himachal lacks coaches in different sports, any plan to recruit more coaches?

Suman Rawat: Process to recruit 71 coaches is underway as 112 posts in different sports disciplines are vacant presently.

HTW: How would the department stop usage of grounds for non-sporting events?

Suman Rawat: High Court has banned holding of non sporting events in playgrounds. The department doesn’t handover playgrounds for any other activity except for sports competitions.

HTW: Why there is discrimination in offering government posts to outstanding sportspersons?

Suman Rawat: Nearly 500 outstanding sportspersons have been recruited in different state departments under three percent sports reservation quota.

HTW: Any plan to formulate a new sports policy?

Suman Rawat: Proposals are in the pipeline for improving sports policy to provide facilities to sportspersons and developing sports in Himachal.

HTW: Parshuram Awards for sportspersons are pending since long?

Suman Rawat: Cash incentives are given to outstanding sportspersons. However, some of the awards have not been given to sportspersons recently. These would be started soon. Parshuram awards have not been given since 2014.


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