Sports Federations in the country to follow strategy of BCCI

Thiruvananthapuram, May 9 (UNI) Former All-England champion Prakash Padukon and Olympian P T Usha today suggested that other Sports Federations in the country should learn from the BCCI on how to promote other sports.

Inaugurating a sports symposium in connection with the 32nd annual convention of the Sports Journalists' Federation of Inida (SJFI) here, they said it was because of the BCCI's efficient marketing strategy that helped cricket to get wide popularity in the country.

In the beginning Doordarshan held monopoly of live telecasting of cricket matches in the country. However, with bold steps the BCCI had even dragged Doordarshan to the court to get live telecast rights for private channels, Mr Padukon said.

Mr Padukon said even though the BCCI was far ahead of other federations in the country, it required more professionalism and suggested to make it a company as in some foreign countries.

Regarding the BCCI's decision to allot Rs 50 crore to other sports in the country, he suggested that the BCCI should form a committee with ex-international players and other prominent persons as its members.

The committee should have clear guidelines on fund utilisation and meet once in six months to review the fund utilisation, performance of players and working of the federations, he added.

They also said of the fund alloted by the BCCI, 75 per cent share should be utilised for supporting junior and sub-junior talented upcoming sports persons and the remaining for senior players.

Pointing out 1986 and 1987 as the golden era of athletics in the country, Ms Usha said even the cricket board had complained of its popularity. But with the BCCI's effort, later, cricket became the top sports event in the country.

Stating that the current fund allocation to sports by the Sports Ministry was quite inadequate, she urged the government to allot more funds for the purpose.

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