Players competing abroad lack basic equipment: Kirron

Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 25

Players going for world championships do not have the basic equipment, the bare minimum facility of sports shoes and money for air tickets. Six new international stadia in Chandigarh do not have the required number of sanctioned coaches.

This was stated by local MP Kirron Kher in Parliament today while highlighting the poor state of affairs in sports. She was assured by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju that the needful would be done in this regard.

“Some poor people who come from small cities or villages have immense talent. They are going for world championships, but they do not have the basic equipment. They are going to represent us in world competitions, but do not have shoes or air ticket. People have come to me. If the government has funds or some plan for them, we can help them out,” said the MP, who had also been a sportsperson.

“Several new stadia and sports complexes have been made functional in the past five years. However, there is a paucity of coaches and other personnel. Unfortunately, the number of sanctioned junior coaches is only 20, which is far less than the requirement. The Administration is forced to outsource coaches for young and talented sportsmen in the city,” said the celebrity-turned-politician.

She said Chandigarh had given many international sportspersons. If given facilities, many more could be produced.

Kher asked the minister what steps had been taken by the government to increase the availability of coaches and other personnel across India. She also asked him through the Speaker about any mechanism to resolve issues related to cases of economic restraints.