Make sporting facilities accessible to everyone

Let sport become a part of our national consciousness and become more accessible, a big part of becoming a sporting power

The space below flyovers, which are generally turned into vehicle parking areas or simply left open, has been utilised in Assam’s Jorhat in the most heartening way. As the town got its first flyover recently, the people were also gifted a badminton court under it. A local businessman donated the synthetic court along with basic amenities. According to reports, the wall on one side of the court has been decorated with posters of India’s star shuttlers and chairs have been placed for players and coaches. The sides of the court have been cordoned off with wire nets.

This comes as great news. The bigger picture is not about a court under a flyover. It is about the country developing a sporting temperament. That ‘sporting ethos’ or ‘temperament’ was missing, experts used to rue all those years ago, and was one factor for a poor show at multi-sport events. Sporting facilities, even if rudimentary, must be accessible to all. Amenities like this just bring the sport closer to people and can fire up a young player. A coach can spot a rare talent and a champion can be found and given shape. How many times have we heard fairy tale sports stories about swimming champs first swimming in small lakes or ponds near their homes? That is why give a thumbs up to little football spaces everywhere—even in public areas— so that sport becomes a part of this nation’s DNA. The important thing is to maintain this facility, see that there is no vandalism and a sporting venue in a public space is used for the sport it was made for. Let sport become a part of our national consciousness and become more accessible, a big part of becoming a sporting power.

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