We as a nation with a population of hundred crore failed to qualify and pathetically ended up with 132^nd position in FIFA rankings.  Is this just the failure of the team we sent? Is this just due to the dearth of talent in this vast land? 

In my own opinion, among the many problem areas our cultural background and the Government’s failure to encourage the sports culture are the two major contributing factors for this result.

Sport of any kind gives us the opportunity to understand the game of the life.  In sports, win and lose are the only two situations available to choose.  Sports provide the strength to digest the reality of the life.  It inculcates decision making skills.   No other formal education provides the opportunity to understand these skills.

Sports is just an entertainment for us.  But for others we are the potential market. According to Nilsen, “the beautiful game (football)” is the top non-cricket sport in India that has attracted 60% more audiences in five years and three times the number of advertisers since 2006.

How many of us dare enough to send our kids to a sports school and encourage them in any sporting event of their choice.  We love to see our kids as doctors and engineers earning dollars working for the foreign companies and settle outside India.  Sport of any kind is never been a priority in our education system. 

As a consequence, the levels of participation in sport and physical education at home, school, college, the community level is ”terribly low.”  The fruits of this attitude are aptly being reflected in the medals tally (for India) in international sporting events. 

When it comes to the failure of the Govt., the latest budgetary allocation for sports speaks the reality.  Out of Rs.1108749 crores total budget outlay for the financial year 2010-11, the allocation for sports is approximately Rs. 1173 crores i.e. .001% of the total budget. This speaks the seriousness of the Union Government on this area.

The Govt. of India suddenly woke up recently and released a sports policy in which it sets an ambitious goal of providing more sports facilities and fostering a sports club culture in India besides providing universal access to sports and physical education for all.  Our leaders are capable enough in creating delusions. 

Our leaders often passionately speak about development in India.   Development is not just creation of wealth (ofcourses there are many disparities).  Without an all round development, how can we aspire to become a super power.  

With no hesitation I could say, we are second to none and the talent is plentiful.  What we require is a cultural change in our mind set, the determination and encouragement from the Government.