We Must Take the ‘Soft Power’ of Sports Seriously

Boria Majumdar, co-author of Sachin Tendulkar’s autobiography and sports journalist

There has been a lot of talk on the Bengal election results, so I would like to talk about another topic. And that is, what impact could the latest results have on sports in this state? Could things be better, and what might be the way forward?

The fact is that there has been no real progress in the field of sports in Bengal in the last few years. No major tournaments have been organized in the state. Barring a few hockey turfs, no other infrastructure has developed nor has any notable talent emerged from the state. This is not a criticism of the political system there, but the truth is that compared to neighboring states the difference is clearly visible.

The sports budget in Bihar has now crossed Rs 550 crore for the current year. Odisha has already crossed Rs 1000 crore mark for many years. It has hosted many international sporting events over the past decade. Bihar has also started doing this now. Telangana has also entered into several strategic sports partnerships and recently hosted the Women’s Hockey World Cup Qualifier. There are immense possibilities in Bengal too and if serious efforts are made, the situation can be seen changing.

I don’t consider myself qualified to comment on political issues, but I can definitely say that sports is a huge opportunity. Archery, table tennis, football, shooting, boxing – all these sports have a big future in Bengal, provided the talents are properly identified and nurtured. And it would be enough to believe that BJP will make every possible effort to prove it. This is what creates opportunities for sports. India is already hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games. We are also bidding to host the 2036 Olympics and 2038 Asian Games.

It is clear that sports is now being seen as a ‘soft power’ medium, and this is also the root of optimism. Doing something concrete in this area will capture the country’s attention and also benefit the political class, as it is a relatively easy achievement. Unlike setting up big industries or creating jobs, it doesn’t take very long to make an impact here.

In sports, you start hosting international competitions, organize a ‘Khelo India’ event, organize national games – and suddenly there is a new buzz around the entire state. This potential is definitely present in West Bengal too and there is every possibility that we may see something important happening in this direction in the next one or two years.

Take chess. Bengal has had a rich tradition in this game for years. We have seen events like the Tata Steel Chess Tournament. This game has a history. Then why can’t more international competitions be organised? The same applies to boxing, archery and table tennis. When was the last time a major sporting event was held at Netaji Indoor Stadium or Khudiram Anushilan Kendra?

While growing up in Bengal, I had seen many international competitions held in these complexes. But now these stadiums are mostly used for political meetings and expos. Rugby is also a game in which a lot can be done. India had organized a women’s training camp in Kolkata ahead of the 2023 Asian Games in China.

Bengal has not hosted any major sporting events in recent years and even when it tried – such as during Lionel Messi’s visit to India – it ultimately turned into a farce. BJP has been very vocal on this issue, so now it is its responsibility to bring forward the potential of the state and show concrete work in this area. The first indication of this will be seen when the new Sports Minister is appointed and the first budget of the new government is revealed.

(These are the author’s own views)

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