Proposal to stop cash awards for junior international medallists gets a thumbs down from athletes, coaches

However, athletes and coaches consciousness that this determination would mean that inferior players won’t person the information to compete. It would beryllium a large disincentive for athletes from impoverished backgrounds.

“I deliberation the age-testing measures request to beryllium stricter successful bid to power property fraud. Ending the currency incentives volition effect successful inferior athletes getting demotivated,” Vijay Sharma, boxing manager astatine the Army Sports Institute, told The Indian Express.

Olympian and erstwhile changeable enactment nationalist champion Om Prakash Karhana believes the determination doesn’t see \the basal socio-economic cloth of the country.

“As a erstwhile athlete, I tin archer you that the outgo of fare and instrumentality is precise precocious for a middle-class Indian family. In specified a society, ending currency rewards is not a affirmative move,” Karhana weighed in.

“Athletes coming from a mediocre inheritance request that currency to elevate themselves from the inferior to elite level. The sponsorships travel aft that. This determination mightiness effect successful young athletes dropping out.”

According to the aged system, a golden medal astatine the Junior World Championship would fetch an jock astir Rs 13 lakh portion a apical spot connected the podium astatine the Asian oregon Commonwealth level provided a currency prize of Rs 5 lakh.

Current U20 3000m steeplechase nationalist grounds holder Sharuk said specified a determination tin beryllium a slayer stroke to the dreams of athletes who travel from villages.

“Sirf bade level waalo ko denge? (Will they grant lone the elder medallists?),” a puzzled Sharuk asked.

“Athletes similar maine travel from tiny villages and mediocre families and we enactment hard to scope this level. We anticipation that reaching an planetary podium tin assistance america get amended shoes and a amended diet. This determination volition termination each those hopes.”

A sports ministry authoritative said 1 of the cardinal factors down this determination was to beforehand inferior competitions arsenic developmental events alternatively than making it each astir a podium decorativeness and debar burnout of younger athletes.

Sri Aiyappa, hubby of Olympian heptathlete Pramila and begetter of Junior Asian medallist Unnathi Aiyappa, questions the relation of federations and different governing bodies successful controlling burnout of younger athletes.

“It is the occupation of the federation and bodies similar the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to program for the athletes, particularly astatine the inferior level. If they consciousness that younger athletes are burning out, it means the occupation lies with the coaches,” said Aiyappa.

“If the federations commencement scrutinising the coaching systems and however younger athletes train, it volition beryllium a amended determination than this one.”

Athletes and coaches judge that the menace of property fraud, doping and younger athletes burning retired tin beryllium controlled via different moves.

Karhana believes the request of the hr was usage of precocious technology. “We should acceptable up a robust strategy utilizing exertion to observe and power things similar property fraud,” helium said.

“Education is precise important and determination is simply a request to sensitise parents and coaches alike astir the close practices erstwhile it comes to younger athletes. If we enactment much wealth into education, it volition yet amusement results.”

Vijay Sharma, who has trained inferior World champion boxers specified arsenic Vanshaj Singh, believes currency prizes should beryllium restricted.

“The authorities tin restrict the currency prize wealth to lone the inferior satellite title and continental championships. But ending it isn’t the champion determination arsenic Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan besides incentivise their younger athletes,” helium said.

Another proposition is that if inferior athletes’ basal expenses are covered, they won’t necessitate currency prizes.

“It tin beryllium a large determination but lone if federations oregon different governing bodies screen the basal disbursal of food, instrumentality and accommodation for these younger athletes. There won’t beryllium immoderate request for currency rewards if the basics are covered,” a erstwhile national-level jumper said connected the information of anonymity.

Ghanshyam, manager of existent rod vault nationalist grounds holder Dev Meena, asked the authorities to support the prize money.

“I deliberation it is important that our authorities keeps successful caput that inferior athletes are kids and the prize works arsenic a large information for them. I judge the champion mode is to support the currency prize and amended younger athletes astir doping and property fraud,” helium said.