Assam sports fraternity support Union Minister Kiren Rijiju's view

Our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI: Sports fraternity of the State today welcomed the Union Minister Kiren Rijiju's view to develop a successful league culture to make sports as a sustainable career opportunity.

They also feel that some works at the grassroot level can help to reach that goal easily.

The Union Sports Minister on Friday emphasized the importance of being 'atmanirbhar' in the sporting ecosystem and felt the country need to develop a successful league culture to make sport as a sustainable career opportunity.

The Minister said: "Sport is a way of life but that is not enough. Sport has to be a career also. It has to give you respect, position, earning, comfort and recognition. So for that when you have a flourishing league system in the country - whether it is national or state level, it has to be successful. And to make the leagues successful, it has to be commercially viable. That is why I am encouraging lots of leagues like our Indian Super League (Football), Indian Premier League (Cricket). Ultimate Table Tennis is also growing very well."

Welcoming the decisions the former international footballer Debashish Roy said, "It's good plan. If we develop our sports at the grassroot level and there is a good league at the top the players would be highly benefitted. It would also help to promote professionalism among the players which we now need most."

Similar voice was echoed by former first class cricketer Rajesh Bora. He however felt that the performance at those leagues should be counted during the selection of players in government job.

"Now there have several good leagues like IPL, ISL, PBL etc in our country. Our players are equally competing with the international players. But performance in these competitions has no value when it comes about the selection process in government job. So I request our minister to think whether something can be done as there may be some players whose career may not last long because of different reasons including injury," said Bora.

The secretary of the Assam Amateur Boxing Association Hemanta Kalita said, "It's a very positive thinking. Players would be motivated. If we can develop the league it will help to develop professional culture in Indian Sports."

The secretary of the All Assam Tennis Association Ankush Dutta felt the time has come to develop the professional league in the country. "Once you develop the professional league it will attract the sponsors and players would be benefitted. So idea is very good," said Dutta.

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