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Over the last few years the sporting scenario in India has changed drastically. From more love for something other than education or taking up sports as their career, it can be said that we, India, have come a long way. Today, owing to the various initiatives taken by the government or advanced technology, children, even in the most backward areas of the country know of sports and wish to follow the footsteps of their idols and bring laurels to the nation.
Over the years, India has evolved so much while producing some genuine podium contenders across various sports and tournaments. However, despite several initiatives and high-end support by the government, there are a few challenges that are still persistent, acting as the biggest hurdle for the nation to produce more medal winners and champions.
In this article, we will have a look at the various challenges that India faces in sports despite various initiatives.
Lack of Infrastructure
There is no denying that the Indian government has come up with world-class infrastructure in a few sports. However, few other sports which can give India its next Olympic medallists are in search of those facilities at local level. For athletes belonging to the grassroot levels, there is no suitable system to develop talent in local schools, block or even district levels.
Poor Administration
Another big reason behind the slow growth of sports in India is the lack of standard code, rule, legislation or even rules that regulate the administration of sporting associations. The laws and regulations of the associations never treat athletes fairly and transparently. Not only this, but the rivalries and disputes among sports associations regarding the same sport, which lead to hamper the growth of the sport.
Gender Inequality
While we all have evolved in terms of discrimination between men and women, sports in India is one such field which continues to remain plagued by it. Even after 78 years of independence, there are only a few women who have reached the pinnacle of success in sports. Sports are considered to be to tough for Indian women to participate, and hence, it remains a male-dominated field.
Lack of job security
Another big concern that is there is winning medals and trophies in India won’t guarantee you a job or a secured retirement. There are several athletes and prominent stars who are finding it difficult to make ends meet. In addition to this, getting financial compensation in sports in our country is a tedious task. Hence, there are many athletes who are still fighting for their hard-earned money even after years.
Mental Health Issues
Another reason why India hasn’t been able to do the best on world level is the constant pressure to succeed in the competitive world. Several athletes have been dealing with anxiety, depression and other issues. Not only this, but because of not having adequate support and resources to address the challenges, several athletes have also quit their sport.
