Malayali Athletes Facing Obstacles in Joining Indian National Team: Former Players Discuss the Challenges

# Sarath Praveen J

11 February 2024, 04:48 PM IST S. Sreesanth | Photo: G. Sivaprasad

Thiruvananthapuram: Is there an obstacle on the way for Malayali athletes to join the Indian team? If so, what is it? Who is Four former Indian players sought an answer to this question. Cricketer S. Sreesanth, footballer Jopaul Ancheri, basketball player Geethu Anna Jose and volleyball player Kishore Kumar participated in the discussion. Mathrubhumi International Literary Festival moderated the debate on Malayali inside or outside by MP Surendran, a writer, sports writer and former deputy editor of Mathrubhumi.

North Indian players can reach the Indian team if they score two centuries in cricket. However, a Kerala player needs to score five centuries to make it to the national team. Sreesanth said. South Indian players will only make it to the national team if they struggle. That’s good. If we perform better than the North Indians, we can make the team. Sanju Samson is a good example. Vishnu Vinod is the upcoming star from Kerala. Vishnu, Rohan, Sachin Baby and Basil are all performing well. If Sanju scores another century in Ranji, he may be considered for the Test team as well. Sanju can do what I cannot. The desire was to share the Indian team’s dressing room with at least three Malayalis. But I couldn’t. Sanju can do it – said Sreesanth.

In response to a question, Sreesanth said that it was Virender Sehwag who first sent him a message when the bribery scandal broke out in 2013. Sreesanth said that the problems in his personal life from 2013 to 2020 have made him stronger and he is thankful to the people of Kerala and Mathrubhumi who supported him then.

Kishore Kumar said that children are not coming to play volleyball which was once Kerala’s number one game. Sports are the main fodder for Malayalis today. Parents don’t let their kids play sports. He said that children today are interested in mobile games. “My friend asked one day what will you do if you become the Chief Minister?” I said, first do pressure and sugar free homes and subsidize them. Gas subsidy if you have a sportsperson at home, free gas and electricity if you play for India. If a law like this is introduced, all mothers will wake their children early in the morning and let them play. Thus, Kerala and India will grow in sports – Kishore Kumar added.

Former Indian basketball team captain Geetu Anna Jose said that today’s kids don’t even get as many matches as we used to play.

Former Indian football player Joe Paul Ancheri said that the arrival of IACL has given a new revival to Indian football which started dying in 2014. He added that the Kerala government is also doing things for the growth of sports minister’s football.

2024-02-11 11:18:17

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