Lack of Sports Facilities in India

Sports facility available in a country and performance of any country in Olympics or other International sports meet is an indicator of development made by that country. If we look at the medals tally of the previous Olympics we would observe that developed countries like USA, China, Russia and many others, it would be clear that only the developed countries are in the first 10 places. This is because of the availability of sports facilities in those countries. India’s total population is more than 110 crores which has a very strong potential of outwitting any country in any field. But Lack of sports facilities in our country is responsible for India’s loss in sports.

Places other than metropolis have very few stadiums where proper sports facilities to the children and sports lovers can be provided, which have courts for games like Basketball, Badminton, Athletics, Tennis or playgrounds for Cricket, Football, Hockey and also proper swimming pools. Even in the metropolis the facilities in school and colleges are not up to the mark.

Lack of these facilities is a big disadvantage for children who have a potential to become a bright sportsperson and are seeking for a career in sports. It is also the loss of people who play sports to rejuvenate themselves and to maintain good health.

Physical Education and sports is an integral part of our curriculum still only half of the primary schools have playing fields, even in the secondary schools access to sporting fields have also declined lately. Ayush Khanna who is a student of St Cecila Public School Vikas Puri says “I like playing Lawn Tennis a lot but our school don’t have tennis courts, infact nearly all the schools in our area are devoid of the facility”.

“I used to play Basket Ball in tournaments from my school’s team but after passing out, I am not able to play my favourite sport anymore because of the absence of Basketball Court in any of the places nearby my house” says Archaa Chopra a Janak Puri resident who studies English Hononrs from Kalindi College.

When we contacted Mr Jai Sabastian, the Director of Ministry of Youth and Sports affairs about this situation he said that “it is not his responsibility to erect sports complexes and sports facilities in Delhi and we should contact DDA for this purpose”.

There is a lack of sports infrastructure in our country , therefore there is a need to recognize the benefits of sports and integrate it with education. Also the access to sports and physical education should be universalized for all the citizens.

(wrote it about 2 years ago for a newspaper, the situation is still the same)

Regards