Sport a career!

FROM a recreational activity to a full-fledged career option, sports in India have evolved into a viable alternative.

It has been revived and has received a monumental boost with Indian men and women such as Leander Paes and Bhupathi, Koneru Humpy and Harikrishna, Abhinav Bindra, Jaspal Rana and Anjali Vedpathak, and Narain Karthekeyan dotting the variegated Indian sports horizon. People have fewer qualms about pursuing a career in sports today.

Initiatives taken by the government finally seem to be taking concrete shape. The National Sports Policy is a key initiative by the government to promote sports in the country. The Department of Youth Affairs and Sports in the Ministry of Human Resources and The Sports Authority of India (SAI) have been established to encourage talented youth to pursue it as a career.

The train to utopia

A sports enthusiast needs to possess immense talent in the preferred sport. Nurturing the latent talent by choosing the right coach and the appropriate training institute is critical in ensuring a high success rate. Enthusiasm, self-motivation, abundant physical stamina, mental alertness and good sportsmanship rate very high on the scale to stay consistently on the path of progress.

The protocol

A serious sportsman can choose to begin as an amateur player and go on to become a professional. They can also train to become umpires and referees or take up the posts of coach or a physical instructor in educational institutions. Higher on, they can work as administrators or officials in the local sports organisations, either government or private. Those with an enduring liking for sports can also juggle their primetime careers with sports. These options include becoming sports journalists, physiotherapists and sports physicians, and fitness coaches. Other areas they can branch into are adventure sports and setting-up training centres and health clubs.

Striking it rich

Talent combined with grit and determination, a great deal of hard work and perseverance is necessary to forge ahead in your favourite sport. Though sponsorship is an issue, yet the money is gradually rolling in, in the form of ad revenue and brand ambassadorships. Employment is also possible in the public and private sector under the sports quota. Underneath all the glamour, it is a hard climb to the top. A sporting career may be like a roller coaster ride, with constant highs and lows, for achievements are rated in terms of championships won.

A few games for a living Run out!

Despite the various scams and scandals associated with it, cricket in India is a national passion. Almost every city in the country has a coaching centre that trains aspirants. Various tournaments are played at the domestic level, which help players qualify for the national team. The chiefs ones being the Ranji and the Duleep trophy, which were started by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Cues to win

Micheal Ferreira and Geet Sethi set the pace and billiards is slowly but surely gaining its share of aficionados. Earlier facilities for this game were available only at exclusive clubs, snooker and billiards associations. Today, snooker houses and billiards rooms have mushroomed in India, making it easy for aspirants to hone their skills. The Billiards and Snooker Federation of India holds championships regularly, beginning at the junior championship level.

Riding high

Horseback riding is almost a tradition in India. The Equestrian Federation of India was set up to promote the sport. The Jodhpur Polo and Equestrian Institute, and various other riding schools in the country provide professional training. In India, the Children's Riding Club in New Delhi teaches children to ride.

Rough waters

Yachting is another sport that has gained prominence in India. The Yachting Association of India is the parent body that organises yachting championships and competitions. In addition, there are various sailing, rowing and yachting clubs spread across the country, which provide training to aspiring yachtsmen.

Hokie and the final touchdown!

Originally known as 'hokie,' hockey was first introduced in India by the British. Ever since, it has become the country's national game, having won 6 gold medals consecutively, played 24 Olympic matches and won all of them between 1928-1956. In the domestic scene, to popularise and improve the standard of play, the Bharatiya Hockey Andolan helped create a framework of qualifying matches through the Dhyan Chand Tournament. The Indian Hockey Federation is the governing body for hockey in India.Though Kolkata may seem like the only city where football is played, it still remains a national favourite. The All India Football Federation is the governing body that oversees the conduct of various league matches, club, district, all India and national football tournaments.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has national and international coaches to provide training in various sports including hockey and football. District Sports Councils also conduct sports camps for youngsters.

In black and white

A cerebral game, chess is a popular sport in the country. A precocious youngster fascinated with chess can now dream about making a career in it. The orientation however, begins very early. The pace begins at school-chess events, and inter-school tourneys. Then graduating to compete at district and state level championships to participating in junior championships (under 16), and international chess tournaments.

The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has plans to establish a national centre to train talented youngsters interested in the game. On- line chess education programmes like the EUWE chess academy (has training centres in Dombivili, Maharastra), and chathurangam.com (has an extensive list of training institutes across the country) also help you sharpen your game. Further information on the international chess scene can be gathered from the official website of the world chess federation (FIDE), www.fide.com.

Game set match!

Ever think that you ought to have become a professional tennis player? Dare to dream! For you can now envisage a future in tennis. Leading players have revived interest in the game, thus reclaiming lost glory. Expectedly, quite a few training centres like the Krishnan Tennis Centre, the Britannia-Amritraj Tennis Foundation, Ace Tennis Academy, the Tennis Village, the Sinette Tennis Academy, the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association, the tennis Village, and the All India tennis Association have mushroomed in the country that train, educate and guide promising youngsters to realise their potential.

However, breaking into the professional circuit is not easy. Amateur tournaments pave the way to ATP tours. The junior circuit consists of four segments, the under-12, 14, 16 and 18. Players are ranked according to the points they win in satellite events. These are entry-level events consisting of four tournament sections. With the points won during these events, players can participate in major events.

The bull's-eye

Shooting is another interesting vocation that dates back to the time of the rajahs, a time when hunting game was a royal tradition. It is now a competitive sport that is a part of the Olympic games. India boasts of highly capable and talented shooters who have participated in the Olympics and won accolades at many an international event such as the Asian and Commonwealth games. The National Rifle Association of India is the only association in India that trains civilians for the purpose of self-defence. It is associated with various international shooting federations. The National Rifle Association of India has around sixty associations or units spread across the country and has international coaches to train up-coming shooters.

SAMYUKTA KODA

samyukta.hyd@careercommunity.co.in