Srinagar, November : J&K Sports Council which is official governing body of sports in J&K every now and then remain in news mostly for the wrong reasons and unprofessionalism. Adding another chapter to it’s long list of unprofessionalism and lack of basic sports knowledge, J&K Sports Council recently held a fitness test for the NEET, JEE and other Sports Category aspirants who had applied for sports categories.
Sports Council first invited the interested persons to fill the affidavit, application form and other formality.
Later they set a date to invite them for the personal interview and then held fitness test of the said applicants.
Before discussing this useless fitness test, one should first know what is sports category.
Any player who has represented J&K twice or bagged medal in one in National event in any recognised sports decipline and after proper screening by Sports Council is Eligible for Sports Category benifits.
Player is only eligible after being screened by sports Council and getting official verification from concerned Sports federation.
By that logic player only takes part and is eligible after having gone screening process of Sports Council. And when he/she should apply for sports category, sports Council only needs to check it’s records and also verification from Federation to issue category.
But no, here in J&K, in order to make it lengthy process and also to make life difficult for the players and also keep window open for major corruption they have resorted to physical verification again and now have also added fitness test to it.
To qualify NEET, JEE and other examination a students needs to work hard. He /she may have been a player two years ago and then shifted focus on studies. The fitness is likely going to decline. Also if a player after having represented J&K suffers any injury, does that mean they are not eligible for sports category or if a player falls ill and on given day is not ready for fitness test, does that mean they will not get benifits of sports category.
There are lot of similar questions, that such practices raise and they all point towards a corrupt practice that has been prevalent in sports Council.
Instead of holding fitness test at the time of screening and being part of selection process before team goes for Nationals, Sports Council officials in order to open another window for corruption has started new useless practice which is mockery in the name of sports.
If a player is asked to prove their fitness why not hold same yardstick for its own coaches, officials who held the same fitness test.
Most of the Sports Council coaches, trainers officials are unfit and will fail any fitness test given to them.
Instead of raising basic questions on the malpractices that happen at the time of screenings and selection, Sports Council is focussed on such useless practices.
There is need for major change in Sports Council and need for a consultative group that will guide and consult in its issues.