Valuable sportspersons are leaving due to financial problems: Sania Mirza

On Apr 12, 2024 26,225

ACB DG CV Anand, the State Anti-Corruption Department representative, expressed his concern over the lack of support for sports other than cricket in our country. Speaking at the prize ceremony of the CB Raju Memorial Men’s Tennis Tournament, where he was joined by tennis star Sania Mirza, he highlighted the challenges faced by athletes in sports like tennis and football. Despite possessing talent, many individuals struggle to afford the expenses associated with these sports and to reach their full potential.

CV Anand lamented the disparity in sponsorship and support, noting that cricket receives far more attention and backing compared to other sports. He emphasized the importance of government and voluntary organizations stepping up to promote and support a variety of sports to ensure their growth and success. He praised the organizers and donors of the tournament for their efforts in organizing such a significant event and stressed the need for financial security for athletes to prevent sports from declining.

Sania Mirza added her voice to the discussion, highlighting the challenges faced by athletes who lack financial support to travel between regions, which can deter many talented individuals from pursuing sports and even lead to their departure from the country. The tournament, which lasted a week, saw Rikki Chaudhary from Delhi and Kabir Hans from Odisha emerge as runners-up in the doubles category, while J. Vishnuvardhan and Dev Zabia from Gujarat claimed the victory.

The event was attended by FNCC President Adiseshagiri Rao, Sports Committee Chairman Chamundeshwarinath, Secretary Mullapudi Mohan, former President KL Narayana, Kaja Suryanarayana, and representatives from sponsors Suven Life Sciences and HES Infra Pvt Ltd. Anand expressed his hope for more such prestigious tournaments in the future, underscoring the importance of supporting a wide range of sports to nurture talent and ensure their sustainability.