India’s sports ecosystem is growing steadily. The government is hosting the Khelo India Games — a series of events, including Winter Games and Para Games — to improve chances for the grassroot-level athletes to showcase their talent.
A lot of athletes in the Indian ecosystem work for glory at the national events, also looking at it as a ladder to secure government jobs.
Mohammad Abbass Nordakh, a Senior National Coach at the Ice Skating Association of India (ISAI) and President of the Ladakh Ice Skating Association (LISA), emphasised having job reservations for sportspersons who spent their heydays in building sporting career.
“I have won several medals at the national level in archery. I competed in Gujarat, Ahmedabad, and within just three months of practice in shooting, I won a gold medal, setting an All-India record. I have participated in national competitions across various states and have won multiple medals. Additionally, I played Division 1 cricket in the United States,” Mohammad Abbass Nordakh told Etv Bharat.
“It is very important to have job reservations for sportspersons because an athlete’s peak years are dedicated to building their career in sports. A sportsperson possesses more skills, discipline, and capacity than a non-athlete and can contribute significantly to any department, field, or organisation. All athletes should be given more opportunities, including reservations and quotas. In particular, those who have represented the nation at the national level should receive priority, followed by zonal and other levels,” said Abbass.
The Khelo India Winter Games’ second leg recently concluded in Gulmarg. Talking about the same, Abbas said, “Platforms like Khelo India are crucial. Earlier, these events were held in Gulmarg, but now, for the first time, Ladakh has hosted a national-level event. Athletes from various states participated, and our efforts were highly appreciated
“Ladakh performed exceptionally well, ranking in the top 10 on the medal tally. We won a total of 13 medals, including two golds. When I was with the Indian team for the Asian Winter Games 2025, I was surprised to hear that two athletes were more excited about coming to Ladakh than competing in the Asian Games. They were comparing the experience and said they missed Ladakh,” he added.