Sporting spirit and apathy
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: February 21, 2015 -

What matters most in the world of sports is winning. While losing can be considered part of the sporting spirit, it should be noted that there is a huge difference between losing and facing defeat.

It will be even more excruciating if the charm of winning is accompanied by a paranoia of facing a bleak future. It is with such feeling one reads the recent news that the Regional Centre of Sports Authority of India (SAI) located at Takyel is likely to be shifted out of Manipur due to apathy of the responsible authorities.

It may be recalled that the SAI Centre was established in 1986 to groom young promising sportspersons of the Northeast region.

While the State had reaped good harvest in the field of sports in recent decades receiving national and international recognition, the SAI Regional Centre’s downward slide can only be problematized from the cumulative apathy the authorities have shown over the years.

Here, there is no gain in invoking a conspiracy theory of sidelining a State known as the Sporting Powerhouse of India.

Whether or not the SAI Centre in Imphal has been able to impart quality training to sportspersons for the last many years can be only justified in terms of the overall achievement secured so far.

What is of utmost importance in sports is not just winning or losing but keeping proven track records intact.

While one can make an objective assessment of Sporting tradition, it is indeed difficult to fathom the qualitative depth of negligence by those who had been made responsible for maintaining a set standard.

The reason looks quite obvious –mismanagement of efforts followed by the usual politics of blame-game.

It is said that the “downfall” of SAI Regional Centre was already evident from Manipur’s overall performance at the recently concluded National Games held in Kerala.

Despite being in existence for so many years, the Centre still does not have a hockey field with astro-turf, synthetic track for athletics and multipurpose indoor hall.

Under such circumstances, it needs no rocket science to understand the gravity of the situation.

Quite obviously, any State keen on overtaking the collective sporting endeavour of Manipur would make best use of the situation.

If Manipur wants to retain the pride of being called the Sporting Powerhouse of India, it is indeed the right time to infuse new energies on how to make sports as a rational human activity adopting clear cut rules of management system which brings in results.

If measures are taken to chart the correct path, the people known for their indomitable spirit can still celebrate the taste of victory.