Lack of funds for sports could mean lower medals for India at Commonwealth Games

It is a familiar story for Indian sports; sports other than cricket, that is. Lack of funds and absence of government help to address the issue (due to the ongoing Lok Sabha elections) have forced the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to lower its medal target for the Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held later this year in Glasgow, Scotland.

“The funds that have been given to SAI in the interim budget are woefully inadequate considering it is a CWG and Asian Games year. All the sports federations are unanimously asking for more money for athletes’ training and exposure trips and there is nothing you can do about it until we have the next government,” SAI Director General Jiji Thomson said.

An earlier projection by the Sports Ministry had estimated a haul of 125 medals in the Commonwealth Games and 75 medals in the Asian Games. There projections were higher than the medal counts of 101 and 65 that India achieved at the 2010 Commonwealth and Asian Games respectively. Given the current financial climate, however, the projection for the Commonwealth Games has been cut down to 75 medals.

Rs. 1,219 crore had been set aside for sports in the initial five-year plan, out of which Rs. 165 crore has been sanctioned to the National Sports Federations to look after their athletes. Rs. 160 crore was eventually given to the National Sports Federations in the previous financial year.

These figures are a little surprising when one considers the fact that the government sanctioned a sum of Rs. 678 crore for preparations for the 2010 Commonwealth Games that were hosted in Delhi.

“Though the money we have should be enough for athletes’ preparations for the two big events, more funds at this point of time would have been more than welcome. All NSFs want to send their players overseas for training but we don’t have money for all of them. I expect the next government to announce a reasonable hike and I hope it is not too late by the time it happens,” said Thomson.

This change in the government’s attitude towards the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games (to be held later in the year in Incheon, South Korea) could leave the SAI with no option but to accept a reduced medal count and a substandard performance at the games.

The absence of certain sports in this year’s edition will also likely hurt India’s chances.

“They don’t have archery and tennis in Glasgow and considering the Games are being held in UK, all the top athletes are expected to take part. It was not the case in Delhi,” Thomson said.

India won 12 medals in archery at the 2010 CWG, including four gold, which was one of the key reasons behind India finishing second in the final medals tally.