Sir — The death of a young woman athlete as part of a suicide pact involving four other colleagues, at a Sports Authority of India-run facility in Kerala, is shocking. Athletes are generally brave-hearts by nature. If the four youngsters thought of taking recourse to the extreme step, then there has to be something terribly wrong with our country’s sports administration. There is no reason to believe that the girls attempted suicide because of a taunt on drinking beer.
The Sports Authority of India has been in the dock in the past, and one instance of alleged sexual harassment of a woman-shooter is still fresh in memory. The overall attitude of the officials of the SAI towards young athletes, especially women, is lackadaisical. The SAI’s hostels are bereft of even basic facilities. Our sportspersons lack adequate environment to hone their inherent skills. The SAI seems to function routinely, without accountability. Coaches are no more the guiding forces and fatherly figures they once were. Under the circumstances, it is but natural that no parent would risk pushing their talented children into sports as a profession. The Government should take stock of the situation in the SAI across the country. Otherwise, India’s dream of producing world-class athletes will not materialise.