Sports bodies picking juveniles for senior-level competitions

ABID KHAN
Srinagar, Feb 15: The sports bodies operating in the valley are reportedly sending underage boys and girls to represent the state in various senior national-level competitions, exposing them to a greater risk of physical injuries. The psychological damage following a defeat in such tournaments, could spell doom for the underage participant. “If you’re sending colt in place of horse in a race, you’re bound to risk its life,” valley’s leading psychiatrist, Dr Mushtaq Margoob said. “The psychological impact as a result of failure to perform cannot be ruled out.”In a blatant violation to the rules and regulations, many sports bodies have been taking a large number of underage students drawn from different government and private schools of the valley to participate in national tournaments of the senior level.Describing the trend as ‘dangerous’, the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Development Authority general secretary, Riayaz Ahmad Wani, said: “Players should be allowed to take part in any tournament according to age,” he said. “It is highly dangerous to send underage players to play beyond his physical capability.”He said it could jeopardize the future of both the sports and the sportsperson. “You’re not harming a budding player but the sports also,” he said. “The losses suffered on account of pushing premature talent and insufficient training can spoil both.”Asked why sports bodies included underage players in their squads, he said: “Their lackadaisical approach towards the sports leaves them with no option but to take raw talent from the schools. They fall an easy victim to their unprofessional methodology.”He said the school authorities were partly to be blamed for not contacting the Sports Council in such matters. “The schools authorities should contact the Sports Council in case someone approaches them with such an offer,” he said. “Parents too should refrain from sending their kids for participating in the events meant for some other age group.”He said there were clearly defined age groups meant for a particular level. “We’ve under-14, 17, 19 and 21 age groups for competitions of different level,” he said. “The sports bodies should strictly adhere to the rules and regulations.”He said anyone found indulging in breach of rules should be brought to book.“By sending juveniles for participation in higher-level competitions, those responsible were wasting their own resources,” sports officer of the J&K Sports Council S Baba, said. “They’re risking the future of their own bodies by resorting to such shortcut methods. Almost all sports associations function without any representative character by keeping themselves dependent on the Council.”Describing the scenario as ‘regrettable’, head of the Dalgate Sports Fraternity, Sajid Yousuf, said: “It is unethical to take underage children taken without realizing its consequences,” he said. “Children don’t know anything about the consequences by making a leap without climbing the ladder step-by-step,” he said. “It is not only injurious to them but would degrade them morally.”He said players are groomed systematically for next level competitions. “At senior levels, the standard of competition is always high,” he said. “Bypassing a system could only end in a disaster.”“It is important to know your physique at various stages of your development,” said the psychiatrist, Dr Mushtaq. “Straining your body unnecessarily will get you into nothing trouble.”

PUBLISHED IN GREATER KASHMIR ON fEB 16: LINK : http://greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=16_2_2009&ItemID=3&cat=4