Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 19: While Kambala jockey Srinivasa Gowda is being hailed by the State Government and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), elite professional sports persons question the double standards.

“While we appreciate Gowda being feted, we wonder why similar enthusiasm is not shown towards professional sports persons. We have nothing against Srinivasa Gowda being feted but can’t help questioning the double standards. Just because Gowda's performance was highlighted in the media, the government was quick to react,” an Olympian told Deccan Herald on condition of anonymity.

He further said that Sports Minister calling for trials is ‘ridiculous’. “The State government is justified in awarding him because Kambala is a popular event. But sports minister calling for trials is ridiculous. As a minister he must know that a person, without any prior training in that discipline, can't become an Olympic-grade athlete at the age of 28. He must have at least consulted a SAI regional director before putting out such a tweet,” the Olypmian lashed out.

National champion Nisha Millet, who took part in the 2000 Sydney Olympics pointed out that athletes are rewarded only when the win medals. “Many young athletes struggle to give wings to their dreams. We only recognise when an athlete gets to the destination but the big question is how one gets there. Getting there is the most difficult part and that's where an athlete needs full support. Our sporting structure is reward-based which is fundamentally wrong. We need to invest a lot at the grassroot level which is lacking,” she told the newspaper.

Meanwhile, another athlete said that only Olympic sporting disciplines get government grants and rewards, while other sports are neglected. “This discrimination needs to be stopped. It's not our fault if our sport is not part of the Olympics,” he said.