I do not know whether to laugh or cry at the mule-like stand the Badminton Association of India has taken to force even top stars to attend the National camp of a crazy duration in Hyderabad.
It all began more over a fortnight back, when Chetan Anand his wife Jwala Gutta and a few more tried to reason logic with the BAI that a camp of such duration was not going to do any good. In no time, the reply they got from the bosses was: Attend the camp or forget being selected for major international tournaments.
In almost any racquet sport at home or abroad, the prime consideration for a player’s selection is his/her form and international ranking. There was a time in Indian tennis, when the AITA tried very hard to make sure Davis Cuppers take part in the Nationals. But never once did they try and tell players they have to attend camps which can be so long that staleness, wear and tear and fatigue will set in naturally!
All of us familiar with the geography of India know that Hyderabad in summer is boiling and not the best place for a National camp. Unless, this camp is being held just in Hyderabad just because it is National coach P. Gopi Chand’s hometown.
Unlike tennis, Indian badminton players’ do not make enough money as to plan their schedule of tournaments, nor do they have the resources to be based abroad and travel as they wish. But the best part in this camp drama and its lengthy duration is the BAI feels it is the best preparation for the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games.
As hosts, it is every federation’s dream that they go on to win maximum medals at home. But obviously, BAI boss VK Verma and his cronies – well TPS Puri is still there – have no clue of how players’ can never be at their peak for years.
Is it a realistic target to prepare for an event three years in advance with no respect for what players’ think? The worst is, like in the old East Bloc countries, the BAI is treating players so hard, if they are going to miss the series of events abroad, their rankings are bound to slip.
Not too long back, the badminton body was in turmoil just after ageless wonder Fazil Ahmed was forced out of BAI. Matters came to such a pass, rival bodies were formed and the people from the international world – Panch Gunalan -- came to sort out the mess.
Word has it that even Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar has been asked to intervene in this current situation where players are being subjected to such pressure of being in camps. Camps, or are they some concentration camp?
The last word has not been written, but I hope the BAI will realise badminton players are not machines who can be made to work ceaselessly.
Unless, of course, one is ready for the breakdown and we have such a huge talent bank, the likes of Chetan, Jawala, Shruti Kurien and Anup Sridhar can be dispensed with?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Dear Mr Kannan,
You have got to the root of the problem. It's a matter of grave concern that none other than the All-England champion, Pullela Gopi Chand, is at the root of all these problems.
Sure, there is little money in badminton and if the shuttlers want to go and play abroad, I don't see any reason why Gopi has an objection. Probably he is using the Badminton Association of India's shoulders to fire at the players.
PS: There is one small hidden Gopi agenda: Jwala Gutta is hot and Gopi doesn't want her to be out of his sight even for one moment!
What say thou?
Very true, instead of having camps that run into months the BAI should have shorter duration but high intensity camps.
By high intensity I mean fruitful camps with a sole purpose of improving the standard of the game.
Hey, good to see Ajaiji, here…and I like the PS he has given in the end. LOL.
Post a Comment