Players Accuse JKJA, JKSC Of Bias Towards Kashmiri Players
ABID KHAN
Srinagar, Jan 15: Judo categorised as A-class sport of the state is losing its foothold in the valley with each passing day due to the alleged discriminatory attitude of the J&K Judo Association and the J&K Sports Council. Ironically, it is the responsibility of both the JKJA and JKSC to lift the standard of the sport in the state. However, the valley-based players alleged that their Jammu counterparts were better placed in terms of the facilities being provided to them and the quality of infrastructure made available at their disposal. National player and undefeated state champion, Khursheed Ahmad Bhat, said that the ‘discriminatory attitude of the authorities’ marred the sport to the extent of being wiped out altogether. “Jammu-based players get round-the-clock facilities in the indoor stadium,” he said. “The coaches are always ready to fix technical issues there.” He alleged that the quality of coaching here was inferior and the infrastructure inadequate. “The practice venue here is more of a junkyard which has been occupied by the paramilitary CRPF,” he said. “Due to the presence of military personnel in the indoor stadium, we have to face numerous hardships.” He said that the players had been asking for shifting the practice venue but to of no avail. “Regular practice is the only key to raise the standard of the sport,” he said. “Security forces posted in the Indoor stadium have put several restrictions on the players, besides the condition is so unhygienic there that it is detrimental to the health of the players as scores of them have fallen sick.” Khursheed, who started playing in1994, has been forced to abandon the sport. “I opted to play when no one participated in any sports here,” he said. “I continued to play and won medals for the state. It is all because of the players from the valley that Judo is a medal winning A-class sports discipline in the state. In spite of this, the Association, which is based in Jammu, helps players from Jammu only by providing them all kinds of benefits and facilities.” He said despite the lack of facilities and support, Kashmir had unmatched talent for judo. “We knock them out in competitions quite comfortably and win medals for the state,” he said. “But we are not encouraged at all.” A dejected Khursheed had no option but to concentrate on his studies and leave the sport. “I was among the players who kept Judo alive in the valley and made it a medal winning sport,” he said. “However, we have been let down by the authorities. We’re not provided the kind of facilities our counterparts in Jammu got despite being more meritorious.” He said the Association did not bother about calling players for participation in the national events in time. “They just fulfil the formality when the trials begin,” he said. “It is impossible for us to go for the trials to Jammu on a short notice. Khursheed sees a deliberate ploy in it to hold back the valleyites. “They do it just to debar Kashmiri players from participation because they know they can perform better,” he said while referring to one Umer Hamza. “Umar helped JK to qualify for the national games but all these years he has left all alone without getting a call.” He said Umer was the star Judo player of state and it was his solo effort that helped JK to qualify for national games,” he said. “He needed the support of the Association to reach to the international level but they never cared about him. They even don’t invite him for the trials. It is because of his own contacts in other states that he gets to know about the championships dates.” “Since 1998 not a single championship has been held in Kashmir,” Khursheed said. “Why are all events taking place in Jammu only,” he questioned. Another former player, Imran Ahmad, a national medallist left Judo in year 2000 after seeing no future in it. “The discriminatory attitude of the Association forced me say adieu to judo,” he said. Sports officer, M S Baba, while admitting to lack of facilities in Kashmir told Greater Kashmir that the people who were at the helm of affirms had been sleeping over the matter. “We don’t have a proper place where we could train our players,” he said. “I’ll prepare a report about it and ask for the stopping of grants to the Association.”
Srinagar, Jan 15: Judo categorised as A-class sport of the state is losing its foothold in the valley with each passing day due to the alleged discriminatory attitude of the J&K Judo Association and the J&K Sports Council. Ironically, it is the responsibility of both the JKJA and JKSC to lift the standard of the sport in the state. However, the valley-based players alleged that their Jammu counterparts were better placed in terms of the facilities being provided to them and the quality of infrastructure made available at their disposal. National player and undefeated state champion, Khursheed Ahmad Bhat, said that the ‘discriminatory attitude of the authorities’ marred the sport to the extent of being wiped out altogether. “Jammu-based players get round-the-clock facilities in the indoor stadium,” he said. “The coaches are always ready to fix technical issues there.” He alleged that the quality of coaching here was inferior and the infrastructure inadequate. “The practice venue here is more of a junkyard which has been occupied by the paramilitary CRPF,” he said. “Due to the presence of military personnel in the indoor stadium, we have to face numerous hardships.” He said that the players had been asking for shifting the practice venue but to of no avail. “Regular practice is the only key to raise the standard of the sport,” he said. “Security forces posted in the Indoor stadium have put several restrictions on the players, besides the condition is so unhygienic there that it is detrimental to the health of the players as scores of them have fallen sick.” Khursheed, who started playing in1994, has been forced to abandon the sport. “I opted to play when no one participated in any sports here,” he said. “I continued to play and won medals for the state. It is all because of the players from the valley that Judo is a medal winning A-class sports discipline in the state. In spite of this, the Association, which is based in Jammu, helps players from Jammu only by providing them all kinds of benefits and facilities.” He said despite the lack of facilities and support, Kashmir had unmatched talent for judo. “We knock them out in competitions quite comfortably and win medals for the state,” he said. “But we are not encouraged at all.” A dejected Khursheed had no option but to concentrate on his studies and leave the sport. “I was among the players who kept Judo alive in the valley and made it a medal winning sport,” he said. “However, we have been let down by the authorities. We’re not provided the kind of facilities our counterparts in Jammu got despite being more meritorious.” He said the Association did not bother about calling players for participation in the national events in time. “They just fulfil the formality when the trials begin,” he said. “It is impossible for us to go for the trials to Jammu on a short notice. Khursheed sees a deliberate ploy in it to hold back the valleyites. “They do it just to debar Kashmiri players from participation because they know they can perform better,” he said while referring to one Umer Hamza. “Umar helped JK to qualify for the national games but all these years he has left all alone without getting a call.” He said Umer was the star Judo player of state and it was his solo effort that helped JK to qualify for national games,” he said. “He needed the support of the Association to reach to the international level but they never cared about him. They even don’t invite him for the trials. It is because of his own contacts in other states that he gets to know about the championships dates.” “Since 1998 not a single championship has been held in Kashmir,” Khursheed said. “Why are all events taking place in Jammu only,” he questioned. Another former player, Imran Ahmad, a national medallist left Judo in year 2000 after seeing no future in it. “The discriminatory attitude of the Association forced me say adieu to judo,” he said. Sports officer, M S Baba, while admitting to lack of facilities in Kashmir told Greater Kashmir that the people who were at the helm of affirms had been sleeping over the matter. “We don’t have a proper place where we could train our players,” he said. “I’ll prepare a report about it and ask for the stopping of grants to the Association.”
publishd in greater kashmir on january-16-2009 link : http://greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=16_1_2009&ItemID=6&cat=4)
No comments:
Post a Comment