What’s the one thing about Indian sport that I want to see changed? And why is it such a problem?
The answer is simple and staring us at the face. India’s courts are already overburdened and, almost on a daily basis, I see sports disputes ending up in court. I would not be wrong if I said that it takes ages to find satisfactory resolution, and in the meantime, the sport suffers. Athletes suffer from insecurity with things coming to a standstill, and the overall governance gets impacted as well.
Ask anyone, and you will know that a faster resolution of disputes is a must. Also, you need something specialised to solve and better understand sports disputes. The tribunal can do this job and make a real difference to Indian sport. We can expect speedy solutions, and also better understanding. So, while the sports bill has many other important and interesting aspects to it, the tribunal is the one thing that makes it hugely significant for Indian sport at the moment. It could have a telling impact on governance and also make sure that issues aren’t unnecessarily dragged to court to create roadblocks and cause delays.
For a country that aspires to host a Commonwealth Games and an Olympics in the next decade, transparency in sports governance is a must. In my opinion, the tribunal is a step in the right direction to make it happen.
Just a cursory look at the sports federations, and the point is borne out. Many of them have cases running against them, and some have been going on for years without a resolution in sight. That’s where the tribunal can make a difference. It can adjudicate with efficiency and authority, and one can expect a speedy disposal of many of these disputes in the not-too-distant future.
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