LoP in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said India cannot achieve its true potential of sports till a system is put in place that directly supports players and makes sportspersons in-charge of various sports bodies instead of politicians.
"'No money, no game' - this is the reality for most athletes in India today. Met a group of players from Haryana and across the country and listened to their problems," the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said in a post in Hindi on X.
He also shared a seven-minute video of his conversation with players in poll-bound Haryana.
"Unless we bring in a system that directly supports sportspersons, and puts sportspersons in charge instead of politicians in sports associations, India cannot achieve its true potential," Gandhi said.
"India has immense talent - only transparency, fairness and access to all necessary facilities will ensure that every promising player benefits equally," he said in his post.
"Completely disappointed with the system, struggling with lack of basic facilities like diet, rest and training, these youth are also losing hope and confidence - this is a bigger loss for India than missing out on Olympic Glory," he said.
In the video he shared, Gandhi is seen listening to problems of sportspersons from Haryana.
He also took a dig at politicians holding positions in sports bodies, including that of cricket and judo.
"Bat pakadna nahin aata, lekin association pakad rakha hai' (Can't hold the bat, but has held the association)," he said in the video, while hitting out at politicians in sports bodies.
During the conversation, when Gandhi asked the players that it would benefit if sportspersons head such bodies and not politicians, they agreed with him.