Author(s): Dr. PE Somaiah

Abstract:
The oldest definition of sports in English language, of the 13th century AD, defines sports as “anything humans find amusing or entertaining”. Sport (British English) or Sports (American English) includes all forms of competitive physical activity or games, which through causal or organized participation aim to use, maintain or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and in some cases entertainment for the spectators. Sports can be physical, ball based, mind based, motorized and animal supported. Sports during the present time are no longer considered as an activity associated with ‘leisure’, ‘entertainment’ or ‘amusement’. It has emerged as a profession for many a people; a status symbol for a Nation; an investment opportunity for a business house; a yardstick to measure the national character, national pride, national health and patriotic fervor; an indicator of a nation’s progress; a symbol of national unity and a global industry worth up to thousand billion dollars. Different sporting events are organized at the International level to enable the nations to compete with each other. India is the home to a diverse population playing many different sports and games. Cricket is the most popular sport in the country. India, a country with second largest population with immense human diversity, has not made any remarkable impact in the International sporting arena. India’s performance and achievements in the international sporting competition is quite dismal. India does not have a rich sporting culture. Sporting traditions are very poor in India; Academics tend to be the highest priority for an average Indian household for their children; Sports and physical education are not so prominent in the school and the college curriculum; Few Sports Academies are there to nurture young sporting talents in the country; The country lacks a proper system to identify budding and young sporting talent; Most of the sporting activities happen in the cities and towns; villagers and the tribal people have no access to train and play different sports and games; country lacks Proper sports infrastructure and world-class sports coaches and trainers; Management of sports in the country is quite bad and distressing; A good number of Indian sportspersons lack killer instinct; Social stigma is a hidden feature of Indian sports; Making a career out of sports in India, is quite risky and a challenging task; Promoting and marketing a sport is very important to attract talented men and women to take up sports; The Indian sports are gradually getting elevated to a Sports industry; India is slowly getting transformed from a sports frowning nation to a sports playing nation.

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