Culture can be best described as customs and social behaviour of a group of people collectively. While every time we do badly in Olympics or in Cricket World Cups the Indian society gets disappointed, we do nothing about it except repeat the same kind of disbelief and shock and criticism as on the previous occasion. A lot of what we achieve in the international arena is directly or indirectly linked with what we practice in our immediate surroundings. And the two sports played in the streets, gullies and maidans of India are undoubtedly cricket and badminton and that’s the reason these sports have made Indians proud on the global platform.
Another kind of trend is the belief in our country that watching the sport is equivalent to participating in it and so when Messi scores a goal for FC Barcelona or Argentina, all Messi fans would feel that it is they who have done it. The moral of the story being sports in India is raised in the way only it has been brought up. If we want medals in International tournaments we must bring up sports with the right kind of attitude. In a vast territory like India, there is hardly any playground or stadiums to go and practice the sport you play or admire. While in smaller countries with a distinguished sports culture it is mandatory for buildings to have at least one floor dedicated to sports.
For once, forget the selfless aim of India doing good at sports. Sports at a fundamental level is one that is very important for our fitness. 5 % of India’s entire population is morbid obese due to lack of physical activity. Even for this selfish reason, India doesn’t seem to be attracted to sports. That explains why there are millions of Sachin fans but only one Sachin Tendulkar; there are countless Saina Nehwal fans but only one Saina Nehwal. Our admiration of these legends is restricted to watching every single game of them and discussing sports on the dining table.
Hence sports must be encouraged for primary benefits among children. Forget about making child a sportsperson, but at least inculcate the values that sports have to offer because out of all the human virtues and qualities, the quality of having a sportsman spirit even in non-sporting backdrop is one that is surely etched in the top few positions of the list. Sports is a beautiful analogy to life itself and learning from sport definitely help us being a better person if not a better player.
Even if we encourage sports for these basic things it will enable benefits that we least expect. For once let’s accept that we are no sporting nation at the moment. But no one can stop us from being one excellent sporting nation. It remains just a matter of time and mindset. However, changing the mindset is a lot tougher than what it seems. But we must strive for this goal at all times and remember the core value that sports has to teach, Never Give Up!!!!!
