IMT organises National Seminar on Evolving Sports Culture in India
New Delhi: With an aim to evolve sports culture in the country and encourage participation of youngsters, especially school students in sports-related activities, while seriously considering a career in sports, the first national sports seminar was organised here on Saturday.
Eminent academicians and sports personalities expressed their views on the sports culture and it's challenges in India during the event, organised jointly by the NGO, Sports-A way of life and the Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad.
During the seminar, Kanishka Pandey, president of Sports-A way of life presented his first research paper, in which he recommended the 'carrot and stick policy' for parents to develop sports aptitude in their children, before they go to kindergarten class.
While addressing the gathering, Pandey said, "There is no favourable environment for sports in our country. It is a very serious matter that the country with a population of 125 crore, won just two medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics. "We got one silver medal in the 2004 Olympics, three medals, including gold in 2008 and six in 2012, which did not include a single gold medal and bagged just two medals in 2016. I think these performances show that we need to improve in sports,'' he added.
Talking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Fit India campaign & Khelo India initiative, he said, "PM Modi has a big policy for sports. He has recently started campaigns like Khelo India and Fit India. But it can't be successful overnight. We need to change our mindset towards sports to succeed."
He also explained to the parents about various physical and mental benefits of sports, as well as the advantages of embedding a person with 16 values, including discipline, decision-making and leadership, among others.
Olympian Zafar Iqbal said, "Sports can progress, only when it is seen at par with studies.''
Director of IMT Ashish K. Bhattacharya gave detailed information about the sports research center. Former Chairman of UGC Ved Prakash, Olympic Hockey player MP Singh, Arjuna Award winner and Padma Shri Athlete Shri Ram Chandra and former Olympian Gopal Saini were present. on the occassion.
