Indrajit Gupta has drawn beautiful parallels between sports and management in his piece, "How to produce a Kohli" (March 28). However, allow me to point out the differences and also make suggestions about the question raised in the title of his piece.
For entry into business there is a well established system of education - primary, high school, undergraduate, professional and postgraduate studies -which starts from a huge base and keeps filtering out the less competent so that arguably only the best reach the top for final selection by employers. In sports, the system is faulty and the base small.
If we have been able to produce a Virat Kohli, M S Dhoni or Sachin Tendulkar or, for that matter, a Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal, Abhinav Bindra, Mary Kom or Sushil Kumar that is more due to luck, coupled with their hard work and perseverance rather than any "system" of training.
If we want to have a regular supply of the likes of Kohli, we will have to start from the bottom. We have to start with the training of millions of schoolchildren, put them through the drill of physical education, spot talent and aptitude at an early age, then put them through years of rigorous training by expert coaches.
We have to end corruption in sports administration, stop the practice of politicians heading sports bodies, prevent the leakage of funds meant for sportspersons, stop hangers-on travelling with sports teams and treat those indulging in nepotism during selections as criminals.
We must encourage more companies to sponsor teams, create an atmosphere of healthy competition in the country and expose our teams to international tournaments.
India is capable of producing several Kohlis if we adopt a scientific approach and allocate adequate funds for development of sports.
Krishan Kalra, Gurgaon
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For entry into business there is a well established system of education - primary, high school, undergraduate, professional and postgraduate studies -which starts from a huge base and keeps filtering out the less competent so that arguably only the best reach the top for final selection by employers. In sports, the system is faulty and the base small.
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If we have been able to produce a Virat Kohli, M S Dhoni or Sachin Tendulkar or, for that matter, a Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal, Abhinav Bindra, Mary Kom or Sushil Kumar that is more due to luck, coupled with their hard work and perseverance rather than any "system" of training.
If we want to have a regular supply of the likes of Kohli, we will have to start from the bottom. We have to start with the training of millions of schoolchildren, put them through the drill of physical education, spot talent and aptitude at an early age, then put them through years of rigorous training by expert coaches.
We have to end corruption in sports administration, stop the practice of politicians heading sports bodies, prevent the leakage of funds meant for sportspersons, stop hangers-on travelling with sports teams and treat those indulging in nepotism during selections as criminals.
We must encourage more companies to sponsor teams, create an atmosphere of healthy competition in the country and expose our teams to international tournaments.
India is capable of producing several Kohlis if we adopt a scientific approach and allocate adequate funds for development of sports.
Krishan Kalra, Gurgaon
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201 · E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number