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Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Favouritism- Stunting India's Progress In Sport?


All Sports lovers in the world know the most prestigious tennis tournament is currently under way at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (aka Wimbledon). India somehow, after Vijay Amritraj has been unable to produce and mens singles players who have managed to even get past the opening around that is if they even qualify. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi have been the stalwarts for the Indians at Wimbledon at least in the doubles section of the draw. Sania Mirza has constantly kept the Indian flag flying on the women's side of the singles draw even if it is just for a few rounds. Vijay Amritraj has become a name associated with Wimbledon now as a commentator for almost two decades, which brings me to the point of this article. I was angry and appalled at the sight of watching the live telecast of his son Prakash Amritraj playing a doubles match when interesting, and exciting last16 round of matches were being played on centre court and other courts. One could point out that he is an Indian and they are trying to promote Indian tennis, but my rebuttal would be why don't they show the doubles matches when Bhupathi and Paes are playing. Okay, Prakash Amritraj and partner Pakistan Qureshi were up against Bhupathi and Knowles for that match. Here again, I would say fair enough, but then when a historical match was being played later that day which featured three Indians(the three stalwarts-Paes, Bhupathi and Mirza) in the mixed doubles event, where was the telecast. So Vijay only wanted to promote his son and not really Indian tennis? Hasn't this always been a primary reason as to why Indians never succeed in sport on the global level. FAVOURITISM to people who don't really deserve it when there are more deserving people waiting in the ranks.It happens even when it comes to selection of teams, A person who has influential power will be taken in regardless of his talent. And people, we are talking about WIMBLEDON here not just any tennis tournament. What has Prakash done apart from being Vijay's son. As far as I know and correct me if Im wrong he doesn't even or never has even lived in India.Anyways I hope these situations do change in the future just for benefit of Indian sport and nothing else.

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