Indore: Disappointed over the dismal Indian show in Rio Olympics 2016, president of Madhya Pradesh Table Tennis Association, Abhay Chhajlani said that players should be treated as a national asset. When quizzed about his thought on the performance of India in Olympics, he said it is quite an embarrassing question. The situation in sports arena will remain same till India realizes the value of sports and sports persons. A new crop of players will emerge only if national players are given much deserved importance.
It is to be noted that India sent its largest squad of 118 players to the Rio but only wrestler Sakshi and shuttler Sindhu managed to grab a medal. Abhay Chhajlani further added that life of a sportsperson starts at the age of 8 years. He sweats to achieve his goals for next 15 years and till he reaches 25 his sporting career ends. Then,he is in the doldrums as sports were his priority when he could have minted money. Sports life is not about making money,but players too deserve to live a good standard of life.
A player represents his country on the international platform, he faces severe criticism after failing to emerge victorious. People are unable to see the sports-person as a national asset, the change in the mindset is important.