The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Incentives will set spirits of sportspersons flying high

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 25, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Incentives will set spirits of sportspersons flying high

R. Sujatha

Information Technology firms have no mandate on recruiting sportspersons

Sports quota is available in most of the established higher education institutions
But only some colleges and schools have adequate playground space

CHENNAI: The lack of ‘sports quota’ in the private sector and fewer jobs in the public sector have dampened the enthusiasm of sportspersons.

Though cricket continues to ride high with sponsorship from private companies, games such as volleyball, hockey, basketball, football and athletics attract fewer people. “Earlier, every year around 50 to 60 sportspersons would be absorbed into various companies, but now only five to six openings are available,” says volleyball player A. Mahendran, who was in the Indian ‘probables’ for the 1986 Asian Games and is currently employed in Indian Overseas Bank.

Private Information Technology companies have been recruiting thousands of young people but have no mandate on recruiting sportspersons. Human resources personnel in these companies say that with the rupee firming up against dollar, the emphasis is on results. They concede, however, that candidates with a sports background tend to have some desirable qualities.

“A candidate is a resource. A candidate who is also a sportsperson will be considered because of qualities such as playing to win and team spirit,” says Raj Narayan, Vice-President, HR, iNautix Technologies.

Covansys HR head Jayanthi Vaidyanathan, agrees. “A sportsperson definitely brings value because he is mentally and physically agile. We have inter-corporate events and clubs for people to express their talents.”

Sports quota is available in most of the established higher education institutions. But only some colleges and schools have adequate playground space. Institutions use up their open spaces to erect more buildings. “Older colleges such as MCC, Loyola, Pachaiyappa’s and schools such as St. Bede’s and Santhome Schools have retained their playground. M.O.P. Vaishnav has no space but their students do well in sports. Women’s Christian College’s grounds have become smaller because of a new building,” president of Tamil Nadu Athletic Association W.I. Davaram points out.

Institutions such as Sathyabama and St. Joseph’s Engineering College, SRM and Velammal have not encroached on their playground space and the government should ensure that it remains so, he notes and wishes that Kannappar Thidal be used for football league matches as before.

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