Asian Games 2014: Are we in a democratic country?

The news about the Asian games 2014 contingent is really shocking. Not able to apprehend the stand of the sports authority. Does it mean that only WINNERS can participate? How did they decide that those players who are now allowed to travel to Inchon are medal winners and the others from the nine disciplines are not? Did any astrologer predict the result?

The criterion fixed by SAI is meaningless. How can anybody judge 2014 team based on 2010 Asian games performances. Most of the disciplines have a new team with young players. Based on SAI’s criteria, new players have no chance. Even Roger Federer was a first round loser in his early days. Going by SAI’s criteria, Federer should have stopped tennis 15 yrs before. Just one month before, Saina Nehwal lost badly in common wealth games. Then how come you have now sent her for Asian games?

Players need to be given fair chance of participation irrespective of either winning or losing. For instance, Arun Jaitley who was initially rejected by common people during elections is now ruling the country as finance minister. This would not have been possible unless he was not given an opportunity. So why not give an opportunity to highly spirited players, when medal winners like Leander Paes, Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza are withdrawing from Asian games?

If the team is ready to travel on its own expenditure, the ministry should understand the spirit of players. By not allowing these players to participate, you are demotivating and demoralising the spirit of these players. They are just players, not terrorists or corrupt politicians who are jeopardizing the reputation of the country.

PS: The author is a reader and opinions expressed are his and not that of the organization