Its like, "Cricket toh hamari nas nas mein bhara hai." Inspite of Cricket not being the national game of India, it still gets its national status..(courtesy-Government of India, the great Media, Board, & of course the Sponsors).
Most of us don't know the rules and regulations of other games, but Cricket, its like the holy chants, we have it on our finger tips. I still remember the last 20-20 match, between India and Pakistan, every body, including me was on gas, till Joginder Sharma got the last wicket and we won the series. I know this win has been a milestone in India Cricket History, especially as it was
a win against Pakistan.
Regrets apart, but I think, Cricket matches between India and Pakistan, are real entertainers.Both side, show case a breathtaking performance, passion,spirit, ek dum paisa wasool.
Coming back to the main topic, the game is clearly killing other sports in India. The tremendous media attention, and huge sponsorship, higher prize money, you name it, and they've got it all, has literally restricted the growth of other sports in India.
No body celebrated, India's win in Hockey,ASIA CUP, nor did anybody notice the under-14, Rugby World Cup win recently held in London, by a 12 member squad from Bhubaneshwar.
Cricket, is been always getting a undue attention, by us, and thanks to the technology, the live coverages of these matches has taken this game to a newer height. All others sports are really been suffocated by cricket.If we seriously think, we, the second highly populated country in the world, struggles, or finds it difficult to earn a bronze medal in Olympics.Same is the case with Football world cup, athletics, etc.
The growth and the achievements, by other Indian sportsman, are really falling in deaf ears.None other sport in India, other than Cricket, get adequate facilities, sponsorship, or infrastructure required. There is clearly a sheer ignorance and unawareness, by the Govt, media,sponsors, and all us too.
If a 12 member under-14 squad, from a remote place in India, like Kalinga, Orissa with not much experience, can win a Championship at the international level , I think there is lot more to this game. Forget this game, there is immense talent in our country, it just needs to be nurtured.
It is just, as I metioned earlier, the main culprits behind, choking other sports in India, perhaps may not be Cricket, but the media, board, sponsors and govt.
4 comments:
I dont think you can do anything much about this. This is Market. Market and economics drive everything.
And I do think cricket is more popular in India, is only because it is the cheapest game that you can play, all was required was a ball, and and a wooden bat, (most of the times we used the thing which mom used to use to wash clothes). And frankly growing up thats what we could afford.
Think any other game, hockey, practically impossible, football, not possible without little bigger grounds, Badminton, is a nusiance without the indoor courts, because winds and the overhead telephone wires and electric poles make it difficult.
So lets hope somedays later, as we build more grounds, more facilities, we would get the next generation interested in more sports.
बहुत अच्छे। आपकी लिखने की शैली मुझे अच्छी लगी।
Its totally unfair to blame Cricket for the sad state of affairs of other sports ...
U cant blame media , govt , sponsers also ... all of us are reponsible for this ... we dont watch any of these sports , no wonder media doesnt cover it -> sponsers are not interested !
Its all Market driven - supply n demand stuff
Also most of these sports are (mis)managed by same set of incompetent politicians/babus for a loong time now . No wonder these games have not developed. Cricket has been managed better and also has evolved as a game constantly and has managed to generate and sustain interest.
These sports need to innovate and generate spectator interest , hockey is much better off now with PHL being launched and now many of us watch domestic hockey on TV ... other sports need to do something of this sort if they have to survive instead of blaming cricket
Appreciate ur concerns on other games, but its unfair to blame cricket. Its a matter of people's choice. And I dont think something/someone needs a national status to enjoy what it is enjoying !
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