Sports Persons

Entry:

Those with talent are generally spotted by the time they leave school. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has initiated several schemes to spot latent talent and to provide facilities for nurturing them. National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) Scheme, Sports Hostel Scheme and Sports Area Game Scheme are some of such schemes. Under the NSTC Scheme children between 9-12 years of age with special talent in any of the ten identified Olympic disciplines-athletics, badminton, gymnastics, hockey, swimming, table tennis, football, volley ball and wrestling are selected through talent contests at the taluka, district and regional levels. Selected children under this scheme are admitted into one of the fifty-six schools adopted by SAI and given education as well as sports training. SAI meets all their expenses on boarding and lodging. The performance of these students is regularly monitored and those falling short of the set norms are weeded out.

Under the Sports Hostel Scheme children in the age group of 16-20 years who have been able to meet the criterion of NSTC scheme are selected. Under the scheme the students are enrolled in SAI hostels in sponsored institutions and given coaching, training and nutritional support to enable them to compete effectively in state and national level competitive events.

Special Area Games Scheme is specially meant for spotting talent amongst tribals and those living in remote and interior areas. Selected candidates are admitted to various SAI centers and given training on scientific lines.

Other than the above, sports such, as cricket and tennis are able to attract private sponsorship. Promising youngsters in these sports are also provided with training by state administered associations and private coaching clubs. Then there are federations and associations for individual games like tennis. These sometimes run training academies, sponsored by private firms and provide excellent training facilities to the few selected sportspersons.

Opening:

In our country only a small percentage of professional sportspersons are able to make a full time living out of professional sports. However good sportsmen are really not left neglected. Government has instituted several scholarships and awards for outstanding performance at state, national and international levels. Department of Youth Affairs and Sports offers three hundred scholarships every year to students of secondary schools/ colleges/universities for excellence in sports at the state of national levels. The Department also gives hefty awards for those winning at Olympics games, Commonwealth games and Asian games. For example the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports has instituted an award for medal winners in individual event in the Olympics. The award is worth Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh for gold medal, silver medal and bronze medal winner respectively. There are also other advantages in pursuing excellence in the field of sports. Sports person can avail of admission in schools or colleges against the sports quota. They can also get jobs in various government departments as well as in private sector under the sports quota.

Remuneration:

From Scholarship of Rs. few thousand to promotional support of Rs. few lakhs per month.