Twelve-time world champion cueist Pankaj Advani feels the government-run TOP Scheme for India's Olympic medal hopefuls clearly shows how sport is treated unequally in the country
Pankaj Advani
New Delhi: Twelve-time world champion cueist Pankaj Advani feels the government-run TOP Scheme for India's Olympic medal hopefuls clearly shows how sport is treated unequally in the country.
Pankaj Advani
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Advani, who has brought many laurels to the country with his exploits in snooker and billiards, goes on to say that India can improve in the world of sport only if all disciplines are treated at par.
"Personally, it is tough to understand our country's obsession with Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. I know they are big events, I know they come once in four years, but just because of this it doesn't mean they are the be all of sport.
So I feel if you are supporting sports and sportspersons, don't have an event-oriented policy," Advani told PTI when asked about TOP Scheme, which will fund training for select 75 athletes ahead of the Rio Olympics.
Advani further explained his point by saying, "It is great to win Olympic medals, we hardly have any of them but it is important to understand that, whether you are playing Olympics,
Asian Championships or Worlds it boils down to the same thing: you are winning, you are competing, you are getting laurels for your country and I wish they understood that and treat all sports equally. There is a differentiation and I don't understand why," said the 29-year-old.
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