SPORTS AND POLITICS MUST NOT MIX

The unhealthy trend of politicians doubling up and clinging as sports bosses in India is likely to change after the government enacts the National Sports Development (NSD) Bill.

Union Minster of sports and youth affairs, Ajay Maken said the draft NSD Bill would address some of the concerns such as politicians continuing as sports federation and association chiefs for years. He added sports persons are best suited to run these bodies.

“The draft bill is likely to infuse freash blood in the National sports associations and federations. It has proposed that 25 per cent of the voting rights would rest with sportsperson connected with respective associations and federations,” Maken said after inaugurating the 2nd Northeast Youth festival at the Polo grounds here today.

The elections to these sports bodies, he said, would be done through a secret ballot and the Returning Officer would be a retired judge of the High Court to ensure fairness. The upper age limit of presidents would be limited to 70 years.

“We are trying to bring about changes through this new bill to help develop sports in the country,” Maken said.

As of now, several politicians have also held posts of sports association and federations despite having scant experience of the sports they head. Experts, especially sportsperson, say, politics and sports should not be mixed.

Some of the striking examples of polticians dabbling in sports being Suresh Kalmadi, president cycling federation of India for 14 years, Jagdish Tytler president judo federation for 14 years, JS Ghelot president amateur Kabbadi federation of India 24 years VK Malhotra president Archery association of India 32 years and many others. The same is the case here in Meghalaya with several politicians also doubling up as presidents of sports bodies.

Meanwhile, Maken said northeast would be given special focus for development of sports in India. Citing the example of Manipur he said the tiny state has produced some world class athletes for India.

He added adequate fund would be released by his ministry to develop sports. “We have sanctioned Rs. 40 crore for Meghalaya to develop synthetic turfs and sporting facilities here,” he said.