Jharkhand in Tokyo: Disappointing numbers

It’s an undeniable fact that Jharkhand has lots of potential in sports that has never been tapped fully so far.

If you look at the list of athletes sent for Tokyo Olympic 2020( delayed due to pandemic) you find only 3 names from Jharkhand in 120- members team of India.

Haryana tops the list by sending 31 athletes from the state.

The reason is pretty obvious. No government in Jharkhand has ever given priority to sports despite the fact that sports comes naturally to the natives of Jharkhand.

With the patronage of government and proper training by national international coaches, they could do wonders but nobody seems to bother about it. Just sheer negligence, lack of planning and implementation is ruining the state’s opportunity to become the hub of gold winners.

The three names going to Tokyo, are interestingly all women. Representing India in women’s hockey team, has two names Nikki Pradhan and Salima Tete from Jharkhand. And the third, the world class archers Deepika Kumari who has just won gold madal in World Archery.

It must be noted that Dipika has also been primarily nurtured by Tata Steel’s archery training centre, the government has played not much role in it.

When Jharkhand hosted National Games in 2011, massive constructions were done in Ranchi. Many stadium, offices and hostels were built. It was expected that the government will use these premises for the benefit of sports in the state. Sadly nothing of sort ever executed.

These beautifully designed & well equipped indoor and outdoor stadiums are may be adding glamour to the capital, but they could have added more if would have been utilised judiciously.

There were talks of running Sports University into them, some decision were also made but nothing concrete has come up so far. These stadium will reach to dilapidated condition gradually and so will our dream to become sports capital of India.

We wish all the best to three women representing Jharkhand in Tokyo and at the same time suggest government to act upon better sports policy.

Announcing crores to the winner’s of Tokyo is not sufficient, we need to carve out winners meticulously.

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