There is no upper limit to shamelessness and indifference it seems as I go through the sports column horrified to see the condition of the women's hockey team. Hockey, supposedly the national sport of our country, is in shambles with both the men and women's team going through a financial crises. The men's team has finally got its due(Rs. 1 crore) courtesy their sponsor Sahara but when it came to the women's team their case was brushed off by the concerned authorities with the excuse that there wasn't enough money for their achievements(winning the Champions Challenge-II and making the final of Asia Cup last year).
How long is it gonna take before the sports authorities and people in general understand that sports ain't just about cricket leave aside the issue of equal pay for both the genders. It took a revolt and a huge step taken by the women's team by opening up a self-help account to wake up the sleeping heads of the sports authorities.
People like the Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mr. Shivraj Singh Chouhan(respect for you Sir) should be applauded for showing an interest in helping them out by pledging a sum of 1 crore and by also taking the decision of bearing the team's future expenses. It's high time that other people with the sources take a cue from this and start looking beyond cricket.
If this is how the authorities are planning to function in the times to come then this is just the beginning of the end of the sporting culture in our country which is dying a slow and silent death in any case.
