Men Who Kill the Golden Goose

Recent disputes involving Abhinav Bindra and our hockey team illustrate yet again the pettiness of Indian sports administrators.

Ideally, the same rules should apply to all. Sometimes, though, this is not practical. The National Rifle Association of India’s (Nrai) treatment of Abhinav Bindra falls in the second category. The Nrai has stepped down from its stance of forcing Bindra to compete in the trials in order to be eligible for selection. But only after Bindra threatened to quit. Till then, they were adamant.

Bindra may have his faults. He and his father, the wealthy but controversial AS Bindra who was arrested last year for defaulting bank loans, are given to occasional high-handedness. Bindra also appears to be the high-maintenance sort, who needs every little thing in place in order to be able to perform.

But he is an Olympic gold medallist. That not only compensates for his fussiness but also gives him the authority to buck the trend and prepare wherever he wants to—India, Europe or the planet Pandora from Avatar.

For seven years, the Indian Government has spent handsome amounts on Bindra’s training. This year, they have allotted him Rs 1.5 crore. The Nrai felt that Bindra owed it to the country to participate in the trials. However, though it may not be politically correct to say so, Bindra outgrew the Indian shooting structure the historic day in Beijing—11 August 2008—when he won the 10 m air rifle gold.  The Nrai’s stand would have been justified had Bindra skipped the trials for the sake of skipping them. But he is there to practise and is willing to be accountable. He will send his scores.

In every sport, once an athlete achieves a certain status, he is allowed logistical concessions. Sachin Tendulkar cannot be expected to play every domestic match so that he can be selected into the Indian cricket team. Roger Federer stayed in a hotel during the Beijing Olympics and not the Olympic village. During the 1986 World Cup, every Argentina player had a curfew time laid down by coach Carlos Bilardo. But Diego Maradona was allowed to return to his hotel whenever he wanted. Officials are within their rights to get players to follow a code, but if a genuine achiever wants to do things differently, and if his intention is sincere, it should be fine.

The job of officials is to handle the administrative and organisational aspects of sports. In most cases, though, they are more interested in abusing power. Their insecurity makes them find pleasure in controlling players, a breed that is more talented and valuable. It happens in all countries and across all sports. Lionel Messi, the world’s best club footballer, will not want to get on the wrong side of Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president. In India, the problem is worse.
Before the Bindra issue, the hockey federation had the gall to contemplate fielding a second string side in the forthcoming World Cup rather than pay the main team its dues. It is a new year, but it has begun on the same frustrating note.

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Akshay Sawai