Shortage of Players

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Jitendra Singh has said that the National Sports Federations (NSFs), which are autonomous in their functioning, are primarily responsible for judicious selection of sportspersons for participation in sports competitions. While the best performers irrespective of age are chosen for Olympic games etc, junior players are given exposure by sending them to different levels of competitions. Over the years, younger performers have been replacing older sports people. 

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today Shri Jitendra Singh said, to promote the young generation for sports, the Government has taken a number of policy measures / initiatives such as enacting the Right of Children to Free & Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, which inter-alia, makes it mandatory for schools to have a playground for each school, a part time instructor for physical education in upper primary school, supply of play material, games and sport equipment, as required, to schools, providing for one compulsory period for sports everyday in classes upto 10th class and two period in a week for classes 11th and 12th; broad-basing of sports by way of introduction of Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan ( PYKKA), which provides for basic playfields in all village panchayats and block panchayats in a phased manner over a period of 10 years and access to organized sports competitions at block, district, state and national levels. The Government has recognized the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) for development and promotion of sports at the School level. Apart from this, the Sports Authority of India is running schemes such as National Sports Talent Scheme (NSTC), Army Boys Sports Company (ABSC), SAI Training Centre (STC), Special Area Games (SAG) etc., in which training is given to young players by experienced coaches with scientific back-up to achieve excellence at national / international level. 

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(Release ID :95665)