‘Parents need to change to develop a sporting nation’

BHUBANESWAR: To develop a sporting culture in the State as well as in country and place ourselves in the global sports arena, the foremost objective is to change the mindset of parents, said Rajya Sabha member Ranjib Biswal while initiating the panel discussion on ‘Sports for Development-Education and Life Skills’ organised by Bansidhar and Ila Panda Foundation in partnership with FICCI Odisha State Council here on Wednesday.

Biswal observed that parents are giving utmost priority to education than sports. They want their kids to become doctors, engineers and IT professionals rather than a national player. But they should not be blamed alone. “We must create an environment where the future of a sportsperson is socially secured,” he said and added that despite gender inequality prevailing in sports, Odisha has produced players like Anuradha Biswal, Sradhanjali Samantray, Srabani Nanda, Dutee Chand and many other women players.                 

In comparison to other States in the country, Odisha had scored many brownie points in the field of mines and minerals. “Despite registering a substantial growth in production of steel and aluminum, Odisha had an image of poor and backward State. In the past few years, the State successfully hosted Champions Trophy Hockey, Hockey India League and Asian Athletic Championships and is going to organise World Hockey League Final and Hockey World Cup in the Capital City. After all these sporting events, the image of Odisha has changed not only in the country but also in the world map,” said Sports and Youth Services Secretary Vishal Dev.  Speaking on the occasion, Rural Development Trust programme director Moncho Ferrer said, “Our objective is to use sports to break social barriers. Sports is the only platform where caste, gender, religion, colour, rich and poor do not have any role to play. We can make many changes in our society through sports.”

“To be an international medalist, you need to have strong will power, a dynamic coach and sporting infrastructure, opined International Karate player Valena Valentina. A few sports in our State have benefited from the new infrastructure created by the Government for organising international competitions. But there are many sports which are under the clutches of sports mafia who believe that without their help, the players cannot grow further,” she said.
Chief executive officer of Nagpur-based Slum Soccer-Krida Vikas Sanstha Dr Abhijeet Barse said if the slum kids in our country are given an opportunity, they can do wonders in the field of sports.