*Kabaddi, National Honor, and Institutional Failure: It’s not Only About the Player but About the Whole System on Trial*

 

Musarrat Ullah Jan – KikxNow , Digital Creator

The incident of a Kabaddi player being part of the Indian nation is not a mere emotional/controversial episode. To initially perceive, it would appear to be only a matter of a shirt, a flag, and a photo. An in-depth analysis would show that it is much more, being a question mark on sports administration in the nation, the credibility of sports federations, and sports administration in the sports country.

The move by the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation to hold an emergency General Council meeting seems like a much-needed step, but what remains to be seen is whether this is a response to the situation and a starting point for self-accountability. The fact is, this is not the first instance, and if changes are not made to the system, this will not be the last.

The very first thing that is necessary to keep in mind here is the nature of the incident. This is a national-class player, with background ties to Pakistan, playing for the Indian nation, wearing the colors of the Indian flag, and holding the flag on top of that. This is likely to have caused a tremendous reaction in a nation such as Pakistan, where sports and politics are likely to be more interconnected than disconnected.

Pakistan Kabaddi Federation Secretary Rana Sarwar's declaration that the team that went to Bahrain was not a national team without the Federation's sanction is itself very important information. One wonders how that team went at all, since there was obviously no sanctioning, with passports made, visas obtained, entry into the competition obtained, sponsorship obtained, and the Federation had no knowledge whatsoever?

It is at this point that the saga of weakness in a institution begins. The sports associations in Pakistan exist in two different forms: on paper and in actuality. On paper, the rules are stringent, discipline is absolute with zero tolerance for any lapses. In actuality, things move as a result of connections, unspoken understandings, and temporary accommodations. It is at this point that the players begin to develop a sense of allegiance with themselves first.

But it is also a fact that players of sports like Kabaddi in countries like Pakistan are not economically stable either. Contracts, medical facilities, job security? These are alien to players. So, if a player gets a chance to play in a different country, unfettered by flags, then for them it is a future opportunity, and a class on national pride is something they cannot afford. The question is, have we ever made this player feel that the government is with him?

At the same time, it has to beHighlightedsupported by reference to relevant facts or data and validated through reasons or evidence that it must also be noted that any player playing for another country or a contentious side without the relevant permission is clearly doing something wrong, and something should be done. But it would not be fair to restrict it to the player alone.

If the agenda of the proposed meeting of the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation is only going to focus on banned cases and show-cause notices, it will only be another formality. The big question is whether the Federation will accept its failures. Will an investigation be conducted regarding how unauthorized teams are operating under the name of Pakistan? Is there any data or monitoring regarding the kabaddi players playing abroad?

It also needs to be asked: would this meeting have taken place had this incident not surfaced, had these photographs not gone viral? Our sports history is full of such incidents that were covered up, pushed under the carpet, because there were no questions asked from the media, no one to take notice of it from the establishment.

In the case of a game like Kabaddi, which has been inextricably linked to rural culture, if the players feel that they are being left out, such kind of incidents will keep happening. It’s not the speeches that make our national flag sacred, but actions. If the state doesn't treat sports seriously, players will also not treat the state seriously, but rather see it as an "option."

Also important is the fact that matches between India and Pakistan have always been very sensitive. Under such circumstances, a Pakistani playing in an Indian shirt is no longer a sporting problem; rather, it turns into a political and social issue. The Federation needs to understand that hesitancy or uncertainty in this situation leads to problems getting magnified several times over.

But what follows now? First, an open inquiry that involves not only the player in the dispute but the persons who constituted the formation, financed the formation, and made the formation possible. Second, a guideline for the players on where to play and which permission to secure. Third, the well-being of the players so that they will not make incorrect decisions. Finally, we must also acknowledge that this issue does not only involve one player but is instead an issue that reflects the entire sporting framework.

If we do not shatter the mirror reflecting our sports system, we will not see ourselves differently. If true reforms are wanted, then the sports meeting should be definitive rather than representative. This way, there simply will be a couple of days of commotion, some sanctions might be handed down, but then another case gets thrown at us along with a different sport, country, and player.

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