As India made their mark in athletics, shooting, wrestling, badminton and boxing at Jakarta Palembang 2018 Asian Games, parents have started considering sports as a preferred career option for their children.
A child’s extra-curricular activities in school is considered ‘‘glory’’ by middle class parents nowadays. Families who do not have the means to fund worry that their children are losing out in opportunities. Ahead of the National Sports Day August 29, Orissa POST interacts with a few parents who shared their plan for their children’s future in sports.
Kalyani Nayak of Cuttack whose child is in Class VIII, says’ “I want my child to be a badminton player. But Cuttack is not proper for grooming a child for a career in badminton. After PV Sindhu won silver at Olympics in 2016 my child also wanted to play badminton. We are planning to shift to Bhubaneswar where he can get proper training facilities. An action plan regarding extra-curricular activities for school children between four and 12 should be chalked out by the state education department.”
Rashmita Mohaptra of Bhubaneswar said, “Eight to 12-year-old students are keen on activities like art, karate and football. My son wants to learn karate. We have arranged a training class for him but the options here are very few. Although he gets training, I am not quite satisfied with the scope of competition available to him to showcase his talent.”
“It’s expensive for middle class families to train their children in a sporting career. I know, when a child is already under pressure with his rigorous academic curriculum, participating in an extra-curricular activity can be really beneficial. But many schools do not have the curriculum for sports and similar other activities,” said Lopamudra Rout of Cuttack.
“Sports is definitely a potential tool that breaks down all the barriers and helps us feel good about ourselves, both physically and mentally. My child is five and she is keen on gymnastics and swimming, but we reside in Jajpur where training for gymnastics and swimming is a dream. True, the government has been spending a lot for sports, but all sports facilities are not available in several districts. We hope to provide her favourite sport by shifting to Bhubaneswar. Maybe, she could win a medal for the nation if we give her the right support,” said Binodini.
SOYONG, OP
