Opinion Circle of trust

An athlete pursuing Olympic success has a wide range of demands and needs, from a coach, physiotherapist, psychologist, masseur and surgeon to someone who can handle the logistics of training facilities and travel for competition. Since 2007, the MCT’s Manisha Malhotra, a former national tennis champion, has been a phone call away to join these dots and spare athletes the hassles that go beyond giving their best on the field and in the stadium.

The government — SAI, sports ministry, national federations, et al — had till then been slumbering, rousing themselves only at the last moment to release funds, which is only the start of what can be described as professional preparation. The MCT’s pilot project gave the country an organised set-up that could cater to the athlete’s needs, in ultra-quick time, minus the debilitating red tape typical of the country’s sports administration.

Abhinav Bindra would arguably never have managed to put together his team of coaches and experts without financial aid and prompt delivery from the MCT for the Beijing Games, in which he went on to win the gold.

Some of the MCT’s athletes are already on the radar of other trusts like Olympic Gold Quest and JSW Sports, even as the government increases its support. However, merely allotting funds for training will not suffice.

Every athlete needs customised help, which means the government will need to shed its conservatism and reach out in ways it hasn’t done before.