(This is opinion piece)

Ahmedabad: There’s none participating from Gujarat in Rio Olympics 2016. The state is in no match with Haryana and Punjab that have sent highest number of players to Rio. Track record of Gujarat has been always like this in the past too when it comes to Olympics. Gujarat government has given its attempts to build up sporting culture here but then we can’t expect immediate results. High budgeted Khel Mahakumbh is organized every year to spot talent. Sporting stars like P.T. Usha and Dhanraj Pillai and others were roped in to train those who were spotted as promising talent. Some infrastructure has also been developed including hockey ground in Rajkot and Sports Complex facilities in Vadodara. Rewards worth crores of Rupees are announced. What is lacking however is sporting culture among people matching to Haryana, Punjab and other states. What is lacking is also a strategic mission mode plan on government side matching to western nations. Event based approach of high budgeted Khel Mahakumbh only will not work. In fact holding such event every year will defocus entire machinery. In any case, the situation in year 2020 Tokyo Olympics must not be same, and mission-mode result-oriented actions should kick off well in advance now.

DeshGujarat