The Kerala Olympics Association (KOA) and Kerala State Sports Council (KSSC) have begun a blame game after their state finished at a dismal 14th place in the recently concluded 38th National Games 2025 in Uttarakhand.
Kerala finished fifth in the previous National Games in Goa, amassing 87 medals while in Uttarakhand the state finished with 54 medals, including 13 gold, 17 silver, and 24 bronze.
Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman blamed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P T Usha. In contrast, the Kerala Olympics Association (KOA) blamed the minister and the Kerala State Sports Council (KSSC) for the results.
“Kerala had 19 gold medals in Kalaripayattu from the last National Games in Goa. So this time, Usha and the KOA president V Sunil Kumar are responsible for the loss of those 19 gold medals,” Abdurahiman told Onmanorama. “Kalaripayattu is Kerala’s very own, and even though she is a Keralite, Usha did nothing,” the minister said. Onmanorama has sought a response from P T Usha on the allegation raised by the Kerala Sports Minister.
KOA President V Sunil Kumar said that Kerala’s lackluster performance cannot be blamed to the exclusion of the traditional sport. He is also the Kerala Hockey president.
“Kerala’s sports minister and the sports council are responsible for this,” Sunil Kumar said in this video message. “We repeatedly highlighted the many requirements, but the government and the sports council were unwilling to listen.
“For four years, the sports organisations have not been given funds. It is not the administrative funds but the expenses for taking players to national championships, the funds required to feed the players and organise camps.
“With the funds allocated in the budget, it is not impossible to help Kerala finish in 2nd or 3rd position, but only if those funds are utilised properly. No organisation has got a single rupee in the last four years. The sports council and the minister disregard everything we say,” Sunil Kumar said.
The Kerala Sports Minister further attacked the sports federations for lack of preparation.
“It is the duty of the respective sports federations to prepare athletes, not the sports council. However, due to internal conflicts, they are not doing a good job. That is another reason for the poor performance,” minister Abdurahiman told Onmanorama.
“Take the case of hockey, the sport of the KOA president. His association gets a grant regularly, but a Kerala team has not qualified for the last 9, 10 or 11 nationals. What are they doing for the sport
“Also, we sent out junior athletes for the Games because the seniors did not compete. The government gave them jobs, but they did not compete in the National Games,” the minister said.
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