Thiruvananthapuram: As the controversy over athletes increasingly moving out of the state continues to rage, Sports Minister V Abdurahiman sought to downplay the trend, saying that there was nothing new in sports personalities leaving Kerala.
According to the minister, sportspersons from Kerala had taken the field on behalf of teams like Railway, Services, SBT, etc on earlier occasions, too. He also suggested that the question of why they were leaving the state should be asked directly to these athletes.
The Sports Minister turned down charges of the government not extending due rewards and encouraging talents from the state who have made it big on the international scene.
“It’s not the sports department but the state cabinet that will decide on the rewards for the athletes who won medals in the Asian Games. Once we return, the Chief Minister will declare the special awards in consultation with the state cabinet,” the minister said.
The unwillingness of some athletes, who have won medals in various international events, to represent Kerala has put the sports department under immense pressure. Triple Jumpers Eldhose Paul and Abdulla Aboobacker, as well as international badminton star H S Pranoy, have already announced that they do not want to represent Kerala anymore. Given the scenario, the state government will be keen to check the widespread attrition of athletes by announcing the special rewards at tomorrow’s state cabinet meeting.
State or money, which is more important?
"Sportspeople from Kerala are duty-bound to show their commitment to the state. One should not regard money as more important than the state, which facilitated their training. We have reached out and congratulated all the athletes, including Ancy Sojan after they won the medals. The state government will give its due and do justice to the athletes in its own way,” said U Sharaf Ali, President of the State Sports Council.
Ancy Sojan, however, has summarily dismissed Sharaf Ali’s claim.
“T N Prathapan MP is the only person from Kerala to reach out to me over the phone and congratulate me on winning the medal. I am yet to receive a phone call from Sharf Ali. We deserve more patronage from the state government’s side,” said the athlete, who won a silver in the Asian Games for the long jump.
The controversy over athletes from Kerala not receiving appreciation from the state government has taken a political turn after opposition leader V D Satheesan highlighted the issue in letters sent to the Chief Minister and the Sports Minister. In the letter, Satheesan also demanded that the Kerala government should initiate urgent measures to prevent athletes from leaving the state by providing them with the jobs and rewards announced by the administration.
