The sports activities ministry’s proposal to cease giving money awards to junior athletes successful medals at worldwide occasions hasn’t gone down properly inside the sports activities fraternity, with athletes, coaches, and fogeys calling it a ‘demotivating transfer.’
As reported by The Indian Specific, the federal government needs to deal with the menace of age fraud and doping on the junior stage and is contemplating withdrawing the monetary attraction which will immediate some to take shortcuts to success.
Nevertheless, athletes and coaches really feel that this transfer would imply that junior gamers received’t have the motivation to compete. It could be a serious disincentive for athletes from impoverished backgrounds.
“I feel the age-testing measures must be stricter in an effort to management age fraud. Ending the money incentives will lead to junior athletes getting demotivated,” Vijay Sharma, boxing coach on the Military Sports activities Institute, instructed The Indian Specific.
Olympian and former shot put nationwide champion Om Prakash Karhana believes the choice doesn’t take into account the essential socio-economic material of the nation.
“As a former athlete, I can let you know that the price of weight loss program and gear could be very excessive for a middle-class Indian household. In such a society, ending money rewards will not be a constructive transfer,” Karhana weighed in.
“Athletes coming from a poor background want that money to raise themselves from the junior to elite stage. The sponsorships come after that. This transfer would possibly lead to younger athletes dropping out.”
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In response to the previous system, a gold medal on the Junior World Championship would fetch an athlete roughly Rs 13 lakh whereas a high spot on the rostrum on the Asian or Commonwealth stage supplied a money prize of Rs 5 lakh.
Present U20 3000m steeplechase nationwide document holder Sharuk stated such a transfer generally is a killer blow to the desires of athletes who come from villages.
“Sirf bade stage waalo ko denge? (Will they award solely the senior medallists?),” a puzzled Sharuk requested.
“Athletes like me come from small villages and poor households and we work onerous to succeed in this stage. We hope that reaching a global podium may also help us get higher footwear and a greater weight loss program. This transfer will kill all these hopes.”
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A sports activities ministry official stated one of many key elements behind this determination was to advertise junior competitions as developmental occasions reasonably than making all of it a few podium end and keep away from burnout of youthful athletes.
Sri Aiyappa, husband of Olympian heptathlete Pramila and father of Junior Asian medallist Unnathi Aiyappa, questions the position of federations and different governing our bodies in controlling burnout of youthful athletes.
“It’s the job of the federation and our bodies just like the Sports activities Authority of India (SAI) to plan for the athletes, particularly on the junior stage. In the event that they really feel that youthful athletes are burning out, it means the issue lies with the coaches,” stated Aiyappa.
“If the federations begin scrutinising the teaching methods and the way youthful athletes prepare, will probably be a greater transfer than this one.”
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Athletes and coaches imagine that the menace of age fraud, doping and youthful athletes burning out may be managed by way of different strikes.
Karhana believes the necessity of the hour was use of superior know-how. “We must always arrange a sturdy system utilizing know-how to detect and management issues like age fraud,” he stated.
“Schooling is essential and there’s a must sensitise dad and mom and coaches alike about the best practices in the case of youthful athletes. If we put more cash into schooling, it’s going to finally present outcomes.”
Vijay Sharma, who has educated junior World champion boxers comparable to Vanshaj Singh, believes money prizes needs to be restricted.
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“The federal government can limit the money prize cash to solely the junior world championship and continental championships. However ending it isn’t the perfect transfer as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan additionally incentivise their youthful athletes,” he stated.
One other suggestion is that if junior athletes’ primary bills are lined, they received’t require money prizes.
“It may be an excellent transfer however provided that federations or different governing our bodies cowl the essential expense of meals, gear and lodging for these youthful athletes. There received’t be any want for money rewards if the fundamentals are lined,” a former national-level jumper stated on the situation of anonymity.
Ghanshyam, coach of present pole vault nationwide document holder Dev Meena, requested the federal government to maintain the prize cash.
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“I feel it is vital that our authorities retains in thoughts that junior athletes are children and the prize works as an enormous motivation for them. I imagine one of the best ways is to maintain the money prize and educate youthful athletes about doping and age fraud,” he stated.