'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Should we spend more on developing top level talent, or spend more on scouting new talent and have a more distributed even spread of resources? Spread the fishnet wide instead of putting all your eggs in one basket and placing your bets on one prize horse. Grassroots development is priority but should it come at the expense of support to the top level talent?
Here’s a look at both sides of the issue:
Siddarth: We are a country of a billion plus. Everyday our numbers grow. And consequently the amount of potential talent around us grows as well. But should we spend more of our time and effort into scouting and developing talent or should we commit our resources towards supporting those who have proven themselves and are ready to reach the pinnacle?
Zeba: We are a country of a billion plus. Surely there is more talent than the current crop of 10 (roughly) athletes who have proven themselves at London. Till we do not look around us, we are never going to know.
Siddarth: Yeah but it should be the responsibility of aspiring talent to improve their level of skills to the point where they can be spotted.
Zeba: The Olympics happen once in every 4 years. Mary kom is 29 now. How long before she calls it quits? We all know sports persons come with a shelf life. The need of the hour is to tap the younger population, for this reason mainly. Give them time to groom, have a long term plan for them. And it is also the responsibility of the federations to scout this talent and develop it further.
Siddarth: You’re right. Scouting and scouring for talent is imperative. I’m saying that we shouldn’t be putting a cap on the amount we spend on our top talent. The Haryana government has promised that a gold medalist will be given Rs. 5 crore, a silver medalist Rs. 3 crore and a bronze medalist Rs. 2 crore
Zeba: Our top talent is only top talent if they continue to perform. Take Saina Nehwal for instance. She is as high as you can get in badminton in the country. Bronze medalist at London. Definite medal prospect at Rio as well. She’s young and has a lot of years to go in the sport. It is Saina Nehwal who has encouraged hundreds of other athletes to take up to badminton. These in turn will be groomed, money will be invested on them, in the quest to produce more Nehwals. It is organizations like the Olympic Gold Quest and Mittals Champions Trust that nurture such talent. Post the London Games, OGQ’s tagline reads as “This Time Four, Next Time Many More.” They are focused on supporting the top level talent.
Siddarth: You’re right Saina is someone who is young and has raised her game to the level that she can inspire others to do the same. Now she and the top medal prospects need a lot of money to maintain their level of performance. Vikas Gowda had to fund his own expenses. Some athletes had to pay for their support staff to accompany them. Its better that we take care of all their needs first, before we spread ourselves too thin in trying to scour for talent.
Zeba: I reiterate. Itis organizations like the Olympic Gold Quest, Mittal’s Champions Trust and others who do that already they look after the needs of the athletes they adopt. And they adopt quite a few.
Siddarth: And yet it isn’t enough. Vikas is a case in point.
Zeba: We have to realize that most of our talent is lying idle in the rural areas. These people do not have the funds to travel to the bigger cities for competitions, or hire personal coaches. They have got to be groomed. And grooming cannot take place unless this talent is identified.
Siddarth: Yeah but that should not take priority over giving complete support to the best athletes.
I’ll give you an example. You found a talented athlete, groomed him, and allowed him to compete at the highest level. But when he got to that level, his progress was hampered by lack of funds. He possess talent but is held back due to lack of funds. We shouldn’t spread our resources so thin that we can’t do the needful for the deserving sportspersons. Yes a lot of athletes are lucky, but a lot of others aren’t. Ok picture this: A stretchable bowl. Picture that in your mind. Can you see it? Now after picturing the bowl, picture talent as fish in a pond. Can you see them swimming around? Ok now if you spread that bowl too thin, then it becomes a sieve and although you are scooping up talent, they still fall through the cracks. You are getting talent but if they don’t receive utmost support then it defeats the purpose of scouting them in the first place.
Zeba: And they are receiving the support, as they should. The prize money assures that 5 crores is no small amount.
Siddarth: So you concur that it is justified for them to be awarded such high sums.
Zeba: Of course it is. Any person who wins a medal at the Olympic Games deserves a huge sum of money.
Siddarth: My point exactly.
What do you think? Should we spend more on scouting and developing talent or on supporting the top level athletes?
