Your dignity is above all else

Aparna Popat, the Olympian and nine-time National badminton champ, makes a warts-and-all assessment of an Indian sportswoman’s life.

This is not sport as I know it. I am saddened by the sexual harassment controversy surrounding Indian women’s hockey. I hope that the Government and sporting federations take a lesson from this and henceforth implement detailed, comprehensive codes of conduct and redressal systems for all involved, be it players (especially female), coaches, officials or medical and other staff. Also, an open door policy with easy access to those at the helm would help protect the interests of all and the sport at large. 

In this context, let me touch upon the lifestyle of a sportsperson. Whilst in school, kids keep busy with their homework and sports training. No time for other distractions. (Surely most parents are happy about that). Once out of school, kids who are still serious about their sport start scouting around for professional academies. They are even ready to relocate to another city for the same. In certain cases, the Government offers scholarships to promising sportspersons and selects them to train at SAI (Sports Authority of India) centres. So, a lot of kids aged 15 or 16 shift out of home to pursue their sports careers.

Often, this is where the trouble is deemed to begin. The vulnerable age, instant freedom, stress of sporting performance, loneliness and homesickness all put together can cause kids to go astray. This is no secret. So this is where upbringing, morals and maturity count.

What I am trying to say is that if one goes out looking for trouble—one shall find it. I suppose this is true for any aspect of life.

However, (allegedly) there are a fraction of unlucky kids, mostly girls (especially from villages and the like and don’t know any better) who are led astray by their seniors, coaches and officials—people who enjoy power over them.

I believe that a coach or official can make or break you (career-wise). For the best results, you have to trust them and they need to understand you. They are teachers after all and command the highest respect as per our culture. Going by that, the position may be misused for greed, power or lust.

Speaking of girls, the awkward situations can be handled with maturity and tact whilst being mentally strong and alert knowing fully well that one’s dignity is above all else.

On the flip side, there may be bad apples within teams, the ones who are not so innocent and a cause of major concern.

I must admit that in my career of 20 years, I have heard hushed-up stories about such incidents. Though none were ever validated, they were there.

Sport is a physical activity. One does tend to be physically close with one’s teammates, coaches, physiotherapists etcetera. Before that statement raises eyebrows, what I mean is that it deals with physical contact but not in an inappropriate way. I was referring to the physical tasks pertaining to certain sports, stretching exercises, massages, physiotherapy sessions post injuries etcetera. Not to forget that sporting attire is predominantly short, often skirts and shorts. Also, travelling in India and abroad for tournaments or training for extended periods of time is common and the stay in hotel rooms invokes suspicion. Therefore, the career is often misunderstood.

As a child who wanted to shift out of my home in Mumbai to train in Bangalore right after 10th grade, I had a hard time convincing my parents. When they relented, their advice was to focus on badminton and not allow any distractions. This was simple advice, but terribly hard to attain. The journey allowed for ample temptations but at the end it was the goal of succeeding at the sport that mattered. The challenge predominantly lay in achieving that goal while retaining my morals, character and dignity.

The challenge lies in handling oneself whilst being away from family. Parents may prepare a child for this by instilling a sense of self-pride, ethics and confidence in them. They must stay in touch with the child, be it through phone calls or personal visits, so that the child settles into the new environment and does not feel alienated and lose sight of the goal.  

Sports can be a great profession. Amongst the many positives, sports teaches you camaraderie, teamwork, discipline, confidence, how to handle wins and losses. It provides the opportunity to travel the globe, earn fame and some fortune.  

In conclusion, sportspersons and coaches and officials are human. We have vices and make mistakes. We look for shortcuts, just like others in varied professions and aspects of life. That however, should not taint this sacrosanct way of life. Yes, sport is a way of life—one that needs to be pursued with grace, dignity and passion.

About The Author

Aparna Popat