Comments on No man's land?: Foulplay: PART I - Playing the spoilsport

The value sports is given, at homes and at schools...

2009-09-11T07:39:25.210+01:00

The value sports is given, at homes and at schools determine a lot how the future stars are nurtured in our soil. In our schools any talents other than studies are usually prohibited. Hence a talented student may naturally end up with no support or nourishment for expanding his/her horizons. This also determines the overall views of the society, and in turn the funds and efforts put into it in a larger level, like olympics or national games.

nd were was the applause when Nehru cup was won? ...

2009-09-06T19:13:14.337+01:00

nd were was the applause when Nehru cup was won?

Usha's school is worth mentioning...she was always of the opinion that we have talent but none to nurture it. I hope Usha gets enough support and she will continue to be there...

and it is true ... sports is not favored.. as a parent I would be aprehensive if my child was to concentrate more on sports...

Might be weird to say...I was thinking exactly abo...

2009-09-05T20:42:32.531+01:00

Might be weird to say...I was thinking exactly about what you have written in the post...I was browsing wiki and reading about the current set of players in indian football team...not a single malayalee in the list...from what great heights!!!

I think part of the blame lies with our system which doesnt consider sports as a credible career...and the only career they desire is like you have mentioned in some central government firm...

A part of it can be blamed on the general economic scene..we are a current where majority of people are trying to have 3 meals a day...a career in sports is like .."maybe sometime later"

I hope as the country progresses economically we realise that sports are equally important for a person and the nation...At the same time I wouldnt encourage a chinese style factory made atheletes who were forcibly being trained from a very young age..

whenever i see English premiere league , i wish w...

2009-09-05T10:10:03.293+01:00

whenever i see English premiere league , i wish we also got top class football club,players and grounds like that(Same with WC FB also).When it comes sports, our government is so cruel to our players(except cricket).They are not giving proper support(either financial or coaching) for budding talents
We have got good recourse in athletics,Football etc.But the thing is , there are not getting proper guidance and support
@ football,when most of the channels air EPL,Champions league,who will go and watch nehru cup,national league and all.Its high time for sports authority of india to take steps to improve the standard

@ Ajay, its good to hear that the force behind the...

2009-09-05T08:46:14.729+01:00

@ Ajay, its good to hear that the force behind the IPL Kerala team has Trivandrum in focus. Salman Khan is interested in Cochin Team and I guess then Kerala will have 2 teams?? Gosh, thats a big surprise to me!I was under the belief that Priyan-Lal team was looking at setting base at Cochin, after some initial interest in Tvm.

Anyway its important that we need to support the KCA Stadium wherever it is coming because if not we wont be getting to see another match anytime soon. So let KCA realize their dream in Edakochi and let the IPL stadium come up in Kovalam.

Re the National Games, I'm not sure what is going on behind the curtains. I've my article ready and will publish it on the 9th, but so far the efforts from the Govt has been grossly disappointing. Anyway thanks to people like you who have proper insider info we get to know there are still hopes left. :)

Thanks for the info anyway. :)

Anish, I could perhaps shed some light here as I a...

2009-09-05T07:29:47.824+01:00

Anish, I could perhaps shed some light here as I am a sort of informal adviser to the National Games Secretariat.

I met the people behind the proposed IPL Team in Trivandrum a few days ago. They are very much keen on launching a bid at the earliest. As you can expect from a bunch of people including Priyadarshan, Mohanlal and Shashi Tharoor who are all firmly based in Trivandrum, the team will also be based in Trivandrum.

As of now, the thoughts are to see if the Main Stadium proposed for the National Games can be converted into the home stadium as and when the team becomes operational. In case the team is ready to play before the stadium becomes operational, there is an option of taking the GCDA stadium on lease for the first few matches.

Sadly, the KCA stadium seems to be sunk in the second land scam of its short history. The land acquired for it is part of the protected mangrove forest area and it has also emerged in a few media reports that there could be some kick-backs involved in the land deal. A criminal case has been registered in the case, as far as I know and an investigation is ongoing.

And this all after the Government of Kerala offered free land in Trivandrum to the KCA four years ago to set up an international cricket stadium. I wonder if all logic and practicality have deserted the KCA?