Hyderabad: Whenever Indians return with few medals from major championships, analysts and experts blame government bodies and policy makers and their lack of promotion of sports. They point out that sportspersons neither get incentives matching their exploits nor is their appropriate consideration for sports quota recruitments.Even sports hostels are on the wane in the state and the government fails to provide world class infrastructure, while the existing grounds are making way for commercial establishments. Speaking on this sorry trend, former Ranji cricketer Mohammed Mohinuddin said, “the cricket ground at Nizam College has been done away with and a building has been constructed in that space. Nizam College has produced an amazing number of cricketing icons like M.L. Jaisimha, Syed Abid Ali and Mohammad Azharuddin. If the government continues to scrap grounds and sports facilities, where and how do you expect players to practice and rise to top levels?” Hari Krishna Prasad, former Indian basketball captain, said, “LB stadium is the hub of sports. However, it has no provision for many disciplines. Ahead of the 2002 National Games that Hyderabad had hosted the basketball court was removed and tennis courts came up in that space. The government promised a new basketball court, which is yet to see the light of the day. The basketball court had produced three Indian captains.” International boxing coach Omkar Yadav said “Hyderabad has immense sports potential given the 10 lakh student community that is available. There have to be camps from where talent can be spotted at the school level. These should be nurtured and those who excel must be given scholarships.” R. Venkatesh Rao, former SAAP hostel trainee, said, “talented players used to be picked up by the state sports authority. They would be provided accommodation and diet. In those days, we used to produce outstanding achievers across national and international events. The government should reinstate the sports hostels.”
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