THERE is an urgent need for the Malaysian Indian Con-gress (MIC) to boost the Indian community’s participation in sports.

Over the past decade, their participation and contribution has plummeted to an all-time low.

Previously, many Indian sportsmen and sportswomen brought honour to the country. Many factors have contributed to the deteriorating standards.

The migration of large numbers of Indians in the last 20 years to urban areas from the plantations, which had basic sporting facilities like football fields and running tracks, has had a telling effect on Indian youth.

Nowadays, most of them are cooped up in overcrowded low-cost houses and apartments in the urban areas which lack sporting facilities for youngsters.

Naturally, their talents and skills, largely untapped, have gone to waste in these circumstances.

Many youngsters with no constructive outlet for their energy have resorted to negative activities.

The situation can only be redressed by proactive measures by those concerned about the community, like the MIC.

At the secondary-school level, the MIC can pick talented Indian students for special programmes and training sessions to hone their capabilities as these are critical years for sportsmen.

The MIC could also reserve about 20 to 30 per cent of the Maju Institute for Education Development loans and scholarships for students excelling in sport.

The party can also organise motivational talks and incentives to encourage Indians to participate in sport.

V. THOMASSungai Buloh

Source: NST – January 2, 2008