Off the field

The Supreme Court’s censure on Tuesday of the politicisation of sports administration in the country strikes at the heart of a festering problem. By directing the Centre to ensure the participation of the women’s kabaddi team at the Senior Asian Championship in Iran, the court laid bare the tangled web of political and bureaucratic interference strangling Indian sports bodies. The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India’s disaffiliation from the International Kabaddi Federation is emblematic of this rot, leaving athletes in limbo despite their potential to bring home glory.

Advertisement

This isn't an isolated incident. The Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) quiet return to the residence of former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh — facing sexual harassment charges — exposes how entrenched political figures maintain a vice-like grip over sports federations. Singh’s protégés continue to helm the WFI, underscoring how elections are mere formalities and serve to reinforce political influence rather than foster genuine leadership. Even the Supreme Court’s intervention in the grave matter isn't new. In 2016, it had advised the BCCI to keep politicians at bay, yet the board remains tightly bound to political heavyweights like Jay Shah, son of Home Minister Amit Shah. The sad irony is that while politicians tout their contributions to sports through initiatives like Khelo India, their presence often hampers the democratic functioning of sports bodies and the autonomy of athletes.

Athletes deserve administrators who understand the demands of the field, not bureaucrats and politicians exploiting sports for clout. It’s time for meaningful reform, ensuring that sports bodies are led by those with a genuine passion for athletics. The apex court’s intervention must serve as a clarion call: let sports be for the sportspersons, not a political playground.