Career in Sports Other than Cricket - It’s just not Cricket…

Career in Sports Other than Cricket - It’s just not Cricket…

 

...AS OTHER SPORTS GAIN POPULARITY IN INDIA AND GENERATION NEXT ASPIRE FOR A CAREER IN SPORTS OTHER THAN CRICKET

 

    Till about a decade ago, cricket was seen as the only viable option for children who wanted to make a career in sports. Parents wanted their children to be the next Tendulkars, Gangulys and Dravids. Any thoughts of playing football, lawn tennis, badminton, etc, were nipped in the bud. But not anymore. 

The Counsellor - 35

THE COUNSELLOR

Sporting law

I am doing BA LLB from Delhi. I am not interested in litigation or civil or criminal law. I am an extrovert with varied interests - actually passionate about sports (hockey), which I've had to give up because it clashes with my studies. Can you suggest some new or lesser-known field of law that I could look at? I am very confused.

Kehar Singh

Do you know how very lucky you are Jansher?

Just fasten your seatbelt while I tell you about this exciting new area of law that will combine your professional specialisation and your interests.

Sports law is set to be the next cash cow for law majors in India. With sports gaining popularity and prominence, law firms are looking at expanding their portfolio in this segment, which they feel is recessionproof.

Law firms are now preparing all celebrity endorsement deals. Earlier, it was restricted to the two parties involved - the celebrity endorsing the brand and the corporate entity. However, now law firms are increasingly being approached to facilitate such deals as part of their advisory services.

Sports law in India is likely to emerge as a big area of practice in the next five years. And with the sector getting corporatised, there will be

an increased demand for lawyers specialising in this field in the years to come. Their role will be to ensure that the contractual obligations of the athlete are tailored to suit them.

Skill upgrade

I have been working for the last three years in a small private factory after doing my ITI certificate course. I am very keen to upgrade my skills but due to financial constraints, can't leave my job to do a regular diploma in engineering in a polytechnic. Please help me.

Abhilash Chaudhary

Here's an option that will fit you just fine. Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou) is launching a diploma in mechanical engineering (DME) in January 2009.

Eligibility for admission to this programme is matriculation (55%) or matriculation with an ITI certificate/certificate in motorcycle service & repair from Ignou. Candidates should be employed in Central or state-level, public or private manufacturing industries or in other related organisations employing similar manpower. Otherwise they should be self-employed in an equivalent capacity.

The prospectus and application forms are available on payment of Rs 100 by hand and Rs 150 by post.

Forms can be obtained from the Programme Coordinator (DME), Room No 104, Block -C New Academic blocks, IGNOU Campus, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 68.

But hurry, the application deadline is October 30, 2008.

Research best

Our daughter who has been a merit-holder throughout, went to Canada to pursue her higher studies in biology. She is now doing research in McGill University while teaching there. We want her to come back now. However, she is refusing to do so because she says there are lesser opportunities for research in India. And even those that exist, don't pay well. Could you please suggest something she can do here that could be equally satisfying?

Kavita

Why not. Better late than never, India has decided to kick-start a talent hunt to strengthen its research base in high-end biomedical research field in the country's laboratories. Under a joint initiative between the department of biotechnology and UK’s Wellcome Trust, the government is offering lucrative packages to attract the best Indian-origin talent across the globe to augment its R&D base.

Under this programme, the early career fellow would get up to Rs 7.16 lakh per annum, intermediate fellows up to Rs 9.65 lakh and senior fellows up to Rs 12.83 lakh per-annum. Besides the salary package, they will also be offered high-end medical facilities for themselves and their families. Only those who have a proven global record in biomedical research can apply as senior fellows. And given your daughter’s passion and capability, I don’t see why she wouldn’t fit the bill.

In all, 70 fellowships will be awarded every year under the programme in different areas of bioresearch for the next 10 years, to begin with. Research professionals would be attached to different institutions to prove leadership in biomedical research, which is an area of tremendous global significance today.

Some Indian biotech firms are also doing exciting cutting-edge research. Perhaps your daughter could explore the option of working with them in her area of interest/specialisation.

Language command

What is group discussion? My English is not very good. Is good command over English compulsory? How should I prepare myself for this and the interview?

Susheel Sharma

As the name suggests, a group discussion (GD) is a discussion on a given topic by a group of participants.

It's very essential to have a good command over the English language both for clearing the written exam as well as the GD and Interview for admission to management courses - particularly the good ones.

Unless you have a decent command of the language, you won’t be able to put your views across - particularly at such short notice. You will get barely 10 minutes to prepare for the topic for discussion. And you don’t know what direction the discussion will take. You don’t need to know literary English but at least enough to put your views across clearly and cogently.

English being the lingua franca of the corporate sector, you must possess excellent written as well as oral communication skills to succeed.

But, nothing is impossible. If you work on building your vocabulary and improving your language skills in dead earnest right away, you’ll be amazed how quickly you pick up the essentials.

Join a coaching class which can give you practice in participating in mock GDs and interviews to gain practice and overcome your hesitation of speaking in public. Alternatively, form a group of your own and discuss a variety of topics within a stipulated time frame, so that when the actual time comes, you are not taken by surprise. Keep yourself updated about current events, economy etc. For the Interview brush up on the subjects that you have learnt during your graduation or if you are working, read more about the latest happenings in your field.

English is not our mother tongue, so it’s quite natural if it doesn’t come to us easily. But, if you make it a regular habit to attentively read books and papers, watch and listen to radio and TV programmes, and avail of every opportunity to converse in English, there's no way you won't succeed. It's only a language after all.

All said and done, GDs and interviews are just tools to test your personality. Be clear about your goals, be frank and be yourself. The rest will take care of itself.

Sunil Sharma

Moderator

Dil Se Desi Group

&

www.dilsedesi.org

The Counsellor - 19

Computer Engineering 

I have cleared an engineering examination. My counselling is on 27 June. I want to know what computer engineering really entails. 

   Ramesh Kapoor

 

Computer science is the study of problem-solving using computers. Digital computers and the programmes they run are among the most complicated products of modern engineering. This practical discipline has its foundations in basic, curiosity-driven science. 

   What is a computer programme? How can we create programmes whilst being sure of avoiding bugs? What is the fastest way of solving certain kinds of problems? Are there problems that can be stated simply but have no simple solutions? Are there problems that can't be solved by computers at all? 

   The theories that emerge in answering these questions have immense practical value in the design of computers and programmes in a vast range of applications: in science, engineering, robotics, communications, industrial management, business and commerce. 

   Bridging theory and practice, including a wide variety of hardware and software technologies and their applications, the course is designed to equip students with the fundamental understanding and practical skills needed by the potential leaders of a demanding profession. Above all, it's training in logical thought and expression, which can lead to employment in many different fields. 

   A sound understanding of mathematical ideas is needed throughout the degree, both for potential applications such as scientific computation, and for reasoning rigorously about the specification and nature of programmes. Make sure you also develop practical skills. The majority of subjects within the course are linked with practical work. 

Sporting career 

I am a very good player of football but I do not know how to make this my career. Please suggest names of some institutions for training in this field. 

   Kalhan

 

Perhaps the only one of its kind in Asia, the prestigious Tata Football Academy, Jamshedpur provides a fully free residential training programme for scientifically nurturing budding footballers. Couched amidst 25,000 sq ft of lush green in the heart of Jamshedpur, TFA is equipped with its own playing field, multi gym, swimming pool, kitchen, dinning room, conference hall, medical unit and recreational room to provide an ideal ambience for promising footballers to develop their potential to the fullest.TFA Coaches scout for talent (on the basis of strength, stamina, speed and skill) at various tournaments all over the country. About 100-120 boys are invited for trials and approximately 35 cadets are shortlisted. The last trial was held in February-March 2008. 

   If you are between 14 - 16 years of age, have a good physique (height: minimum 5' 6" and weight: minimum 50 kg) and have participated in your State U-16 championship (although it is not compulsory) then you can apply to: 

   TFA, Inner Circle, Road, Bistupur, Jamshedpur 831001 (Jharkhand). For further information, you could log on to: 

www.tatafootballacademy.com 

   Also check with your State’s Sports Directorate for selection trials for football coaching in your state. 

   Another very useful source of information is the website www.indianfootball.com, which will give you a comprehensive list of the various football academies situated all over the country. 

Course Relevance 

I passed my class XII examination this year. I want to do ITI. I want to know is it equivalent to engineering or not? 

   Naresh Chandra

 

No, the ITIs only offer certificate-level courses in a number of technical disciplines. After these you can proceed for a diploma in engineering and thereafter, you can get lateral entry into the second year of a regular BE/BTech programme. You can also enrol for the associate membership of professional bodies such as the Institution of Engineers or the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers. Upon clearing all the exams, you will be considered equivalent to a BE/BTEch. 

   Since you have already completed class XII, you can directly opt for a diploma in engineering (3-year) in the field of your choice (eg mechanical, civil, electronics, electrical, IT etc). 

Looking ahead 

I have completed class XII. I am very fond of martial arts and would like to join the police force. Can I opt for being a constable in the Delhi police? 

   Usha Singh

 

You can become a constable. In fact over 1,000 women constables would be recruited in Delhi Police over the next three months. A total of 1,067 women constables will be recruited bringing the total strength of the capital's women police personnel to around 4,600. Delhi Police has a total strength of around 65,000 presently. 

   The recruitment process has begun and women in the age group of 18-25 years can apply for the post of constables. Among the new recruits, 535 will be from the general category 239 from OBC, 196 from scheduled castes and 97 from scheduled tribes. The website is

 

www.delhipolicerecruitment.in

 

 

 The application deadline is June 30, 2008. According to a recent study done by the National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development, people of Delhi feel that women should be given a more proactive role in policing. Women can act as a force against corruption and a deterrent against the use of foul language by male colleagues. A whopping 76% of the people surveyed as part of the study 'People's Perception of Women Police' believe that women personnel can implement laws more sincerely and effectively than their male counterparts. 

Legal issues 

I have just given my law entrance, but I'm not sure about its prospects. Is law a viable career option, especially corporate law? 

   Kishan Bhanot

 

The unprecedented economic growth has obviously expanded the need for specialised services, and commercial law firms in India are riding the wave. One obvious consequence is that new law firms are being set-up each year and these firms are hiring more people and paying higher salaries than ever before. The competition amongst firms to recruit the best law graduates has further increased since international law firms started making direct offers to undergraduate students at the top law-schools. This is a boon for fresh graduates who are getting opportunities that earlier came only after several years of experience. In fact, most graduates are now joining commercial law firms or companies as legal advisors. Delhi University's law faculty has also witnessed a long queue of law firms grabbing fresh passouts with very attractive packages. 

   A career in corporate law guarantees a healthy pay right from day one as opposed to court-practice where one needs to work under experienced advocates for several years at subsistence wage levels before gaining financial independence and prominence. However, we must not overlook the fact that most students begin their careers in corporate law to recover the costs of their education and to ensure financial security for their families.

Racing career 

I have completed MSc (Math). I am 24 and want to make career in bike racing. Is there any institution for this? 

   Rajender Katoch

 

With superbikes catching on in India, biking clubs are not far behind. For instance, the racing school for beginners at the MMST Track , supported by TVS Motor Company Ltd and organised by the Madras Motor Sports Club trains fresh enthusiasts who wish to join bike racing. They conduct theory sessions to acquaint the riders on basic track rules and practical sessions on bikes. Certificates are issued by MMSC on successful completion of training. The charges are approximately Rs 1000, for cost of fuel and food, use of Track (half day, and for the instructor. Accommodation is also provided for outstation applicants. 

   The application form can be downloaded from the website of Madras Motor Sports Club (www.mmsc.in). Besides TVS, Yamaha also has two biking clubs, The Frenzy Riders (Yamaha RI) in Bangalore and the more recent, Yamaha Gladiator Club. The Royal Enfield Company runs the Bullet Club, across Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chandigarh and Kolkata. The club boasts of a membership of over 2,500 avid bikers.

 

 

 

Sunil Sharma

   Moderator

Dil Se Desi Group

&

www.dilsedesi.org

Career in Sports

A League of Their Own

 

WITH THE INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE BRINGING IN THE BIG BUCKS AND GLAMOUR, WHETHER SPORTS HAS NOW BECOME A VIABLE CAREER OPTION FOR THE YOUTH

   Cricket is on a winning streak as the Indian Premier League (IPL) has taken the game to new heights. It is raining money, glamour and fame and young cricketers like Ishant Sharma and Mahendra Singh Dhoni have turned into demi-gods. Sharma is valued at $9,50,000 and Dhoni a staggering $1.5 million. Will all this hype encourage the youth to opt for sports as a career rather than a hobby? 

   The verdict is divided; some feel that other sports are not as lucrative as cricket, while others say that IPL will help boost the profile of all games in general. Cricket has led to a wave of interest among the youth towards sports. An industry survey,government officials and institute heads, indicate that there will be an increase in the number of people opting to pursue cricket as a career and other sports will be neglected.While on the other hand, coaches, sportsmen and sports authorities feel that sports as a whole have come a long way and if a person has the passion and discipline to pursue any sport, there are ample opportunities. 

FAIR GAME 

A recent survey by Assocham mentions that over 68% of the sports sponsorship is given to cricket boards, IPL and Indian Cricket League (ICL), and the remaining is divided among other sports. So can a sportsperson sustain a livelihood? "If you go back 10-odd years in time, sports in general never attracted that much attention. However, one can certainly make a good career in any sport now," says Baichung Bhutia, football player. 

 

   Bhutia admits that it is difficult to invite corporate sponsorships for most sports. "Sports is a big business now. Corporates will pool in money only if they see returns. And in sports, returns are led by wins. If we win, we will get sponsorship," he says. 

   Manavjit Singh Sandhu, shooter, holds a similar view that cricket is in a league of its own and that it is ‘difficult’ for other sports to invite similar sponsorships. However, he hastens to add that tennis and shooting have now started attracting youngsters who are pursuing the sport as a career. On the positive side, Sandhu also says that the government is taking more interest in sports and has introduced many schemes for youngsters if they wish to pursue a career in sports. 

   "Tennis has a lot of money and can sustain itself. Moreover, people get attracted towards sports if they have icons. With Sania Mirza emerging as a youth icon for many, tennis has acquired attention from many youngsters," says Joe Sebastian, director - sports, ministry of youth affairs and sports. 

   However, Sebastian differentiates between cricket and other sports. "Cricket and Bollywood are two religions in Indian, so imagine the kind of money and glamour generated if they combine as they have in IPL. Even Australian players are looking forward to play in India. We have allocated a Rs 667 crore budget for covering the entire gamut of sports in our country. It is just 0.083% of the entire budget. A small country like Cuba spends over 13% of its budget for sports. And when it comes to IPL revenue, there are projections that suggest it would generate Rs 5,000 crore in the next five years. Now compare this to a meagre Rs 667 crore budget. If we estimate the deal fetched by Ishant Sharma, he will be earning Rs 1.75 lakh per ball during the tournament. Not only money, cricketers are also going to earn fame like British footballer David Beckham," adds Sebastian. 

SCORING POINT 

There are others who feel that if you have an interest and talent for a particular sport, you would follow your passion. "It is all about sportsmanship. If a person has a passion for a particular sport, no matter how much fame and money is involved in other games, the person will follow his/her passion.In our institute we encourage people to get an education even in a game like kho-kho,'' opines S N Mukherjee, vice-chancellor, Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education, Gwalior, a deemed university providing a formal education in sports. 

 

   According to Mukherjee, opportunities in other sports go unnoticed. "There is a lack of awareness among people about the schemes and funds available for pursuing a sport. The government is running 30 SAI (Sports Authority of India) training centres across the country. All facilities including food, lodging, infrastructure, equipment are fully-funded by the government and sportspersons get training free of cost, informs Mukherjee . 

 

   "It is a myth that careers other than sports can provide better job security.You will be surprised to know that the unemployment rate in sports is only 10% as compared to other careers," informs Prem Kashyap, executive director, SAI. 

   Kashyap even says that job security in pursuing sports other than cricket is much higher. "Many PSUs and private companies have their teams and employ people from different sports to represent their teams.You can join them or sports clubs, schools, coaching if you want to explore other career opportunities," he adds. 

   "It is not about job opportunities alone, I think this is the best time to be born in India as a sportsperson," claims Tania Sachdev, a young chess player who was recently titled the Asian Woman Champion for 2008. "Sports is a different kind of education and it changes the entire personality. I play both at the national and international level. Things are changing for the better in the overall sports scenario." 

  Tania, Sania and many other women want to participate in a sport other than cricket. "Although we lost in the Olympic qualifiers in hockey, the game has witnessed a revival in our country courtesy the film Chak de India. There is a phenomenal increase in the number of people wanting to learn hockey especially women. If I teach hockey to 40 students, 30 among them are girls," says Umesh Gautam, hockey and swimming coach Father Agnel School, Noida. Gautam is among those who are optimistic about other sports also getting attention, due to the success of IPL. 

  While Gautam expresses in words that IPL will be beneficial for other sports, Sebastian corroborates with a fact. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) plans to divert its resources to other sports. BCCI is going to contribute 25 crores for the National Sports Development Fund to help develop other sports in India.

  

 

Sunil Sharma

    Moderator

Dil Se Desi Group