The Telegraph: The lure of money turning players into mercenaries

The lure of money turning players into mercenaries

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Gurbux Singh

The other day I was watching the hockey final at the National Games. Jharkhand were playing Punjab and I must admit it was quite an exciting match. Punjab prevailed in the end, but what surprised me was there were a number of players from outside Jharkhand representing the side.

This has become a practice in the National Games where states lure players from outside offering them incentives. It’s not good for the game though. Most often the host state hires players from outside to top the medals tally. In 2002, Andhra Pradesh started this and offered incentives to the players.

Swimmer Richa Mishra took home more than Rs 30 lakh that year and this year she almost represented Jharkhand. The hosts had announced Rs 7 lakh for gold, five lakh for silver and three lakh for bronze. The lure of money is actually turning players into mercenaries. And I am totally against it. Agreed, the players get a chance to make some money, but this practice is totally unethical.

Look at Bengal. We don’t offer any incentive and our performance was horrible in the recently-concluded Games, whereas Jharkhand finished fifth with 33 gold. But I am sure in the next edition they will not be able to repeat this performance.

So, this showing actually gives a false impression about Jharkhand’s development in sport. The officials and the politicians may bask in the glory, but they must realise that it is on borrowed ammunition.

Back home, the Bengal Hockey Association first division league starts shortly and we are planning to have some matches at the Sport Authority of India (SAI) astro-turf ground. The problem is there’s an acute shortage of water at the SAI complex.

We have to outsource it and that is proving quite expensive. So, it will be not be possible to have all the matches there. But the Super League matches — to be played between the four top teams — will be played in the astro-turf.

There is another development in the Capital. Lalit Bhanot and V.K Verma were arrested and I am sure law will take its own course. Sports is no longer for gentlemen. Sad, but it’s true.