Let’s Be Honest, The ‘South Asian Games’ Simply Don’t Matter

“The South Asian Games are really just an excuse for India to beat up on its neighbours,” writes Gaurav Kalra.

India record highest medal count ever at South Asian Games.

Now as headlines go, this has a celebratory ring to it at first glance. But really, and let’s not kid ourselves, it is essentially comical.

The South Asian Games, the latest edition of which was played in Guwahati and Shillong over the last few days, are really just an excuse for India to beat up on its neighbours.

So India’s athletes- better funded, trained and perhaps skilled at most sporting disciplines than those from their immediate vicinity, arrive with a swagger, muscle away most of the medals and pose beamingly for pictures.

Hockey: Club Trumps Country

Look a little closer though. India fielded a hockey squad that lost the final to Pakistan, with most of its first team players missing. Why? Because they are busy playing the Hockey India League!

Now if there’s an indictment needed of the esteem these games are held in, there can’t be a more telling one. India’s hockey establishment asked its players to continue competing in a franchise competition instead of collecting for national duty in pursuit of a gold medal. And no one bats an eyelid.

Wondering why? Because the pointlessness of competing against a slew of second grade teams, except Pakistan, in an Olympic year isn’t lost on anyone. Instead, the first team players are rubbing shoulders with some of the best in the world in an intense competition, hoping to make a credible assault later in the year at an Olympic medal that has eluded them for 36 years.

Goals Galore in Golden Run

Ahhh, by the way, the Indian women did win the hockey gold, thumping the might of Sri Lanka 10-0 in the final. The same teams had met earlier in the league phase, and India won that encounter by a 12-1 margin. And earlier, Nepal were crushed, wait for it, 24-0!

So India’s women scored 46 goals in their three matches in the competition. Wondering why didn’t they play more games? Because, only three teams participated as women’s hockey debuted at the games! For sending across a team to ensure the stadium at the presentation ceremony was suitably occupied, Nepal was gifted a bronze medal.

India’s women will be participating at the Olympics for the first time in 36 years later this year. Just exactly how have they benefited from thrashing two rag-tag outfits?

The shambles of the hockey competition, usually a marquee event at multi-discipline games from an Indian perspective, is a grim reminder of why these games have little relevance or context. Several other athletes, recognising the mediocrity of the competition on offer, also kept away.

Badminton Stars’ Forced Participation?

Badminton stars Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap, nursing injuries, were among those who sat out. Kashyap though could only do so after an amusing back and forth with the authorities. He requested for rest to recover from an injury in an Olympic year. Instead, he was sent an air ticket, leaving him in no doubt that he was expected to participate. A distraught Kashyap was left confused and shaken.

I understand India is hosting this event and Government wants to showcase the best team. But mine is a special case, I am injured now. I have just 12 weeks to qualify for the Olympics. Out of which I can also play for seven weeks and train for five weeks. This in itself is a huge task. On top of it, to expect me to play at SA Games is too much. I don’t know what to do. If I play, I might again aggravate my injury. If I were fit, I could have played. But I just can’t play. But no one is listening to me.

Parupalli Kashyap, Indian Badminton player

Thankfully, someone did in time, and Kashyap was spared the agony of playing through an injury, putting his Olympic ambitions on hold.

And, for what? To be called South Asian Games Champion? Beating players who barely register on the world circuit?

‘Call a Spade a Spade’

Shooter Heena Sidhu, who won an Olympic quota spot at the qualifying event in New Delhi was another one who urged authorities to let her rest and train rather than show up at the games. Sprinters Srabani Nanda and Dutee Chand who finished 1-2 in the 200 metres did so short of their personal bests? Why? Because they aim to meet the qualifying mark for Rio and this competition wasn’t part of their training schedule.

A spade needs to be called one at times like these. For an ambitious sporting nation, aspiring to increase its medal count at the Olympics, fronting up against mediocre rivals serves little, if any purpose. It is also colossal waste of funds and resources to organise an event that barely makes a ripple on the country’s sporting conscience.

An occasion of this kind must engage, excite and create a raw fervour towards accomplishments of India’s athletes. Instead, it barely registers on the mind space, other than offer up some empty medals and cursory photo-ops for officials and political figures.

Summits between heads of government of South Asia are an opportunity to address the issues of a volatile region. Their importance can’t be overstated.

Sport between the same countries, on the other hand, is nothing but an unnecessary diversion. These games must be buried at the soonest in the dustbin of history.

Also Read: Argue if You Want, We, India’s Athletes Need the South Asian Games