Roadblocks for Malayali Athletes in Joining Indian Team: Insights from Former Players

# Sarath Praveen J

11 Feb 2024, 04:48 PM IST S. Sreesanth | Photo: G. Sivaprasad

Thiruvananthapuram: Is there a roadblock for Malayali athletes to join the Indian team? If so, what is it? Who is Four former Indian players asked for an answer to this question. Cricketer S. Sreesanth, footballer Jopaul Ancheri, basketball player Geethu Anna Jose and volleyball player Kishore Kumar participated in the discussion. Mathrubhumi International Literary Festival was moderated by AS Surendran, author, sports writer and former deputy editor of Mathrubhumi.

North Indian players can make it to the Indian team if they score two centuries in cricket. However, the Kerala player needs to score five centuries to make it to the national team. Sreesanth said. South Indian players will only make it to the national team if they struggle. That’s good. If we perform better than the North Indians, we can make the team. Sanju Samson is a good example. Vishnu Vinod is the next star from Kerala. Vishnu, Rohan, Sachin Baby and Basil all perform well. If Sanju scores another century in Ranji, he may be considered for the Test team. Sanju can do what I cannot. The desire was to share the dressing room of the Indian team with at least three Malayalis. But I couldn’t. Sanju can do it – said Sreesanth.

In response to a question, Sreesanth said that it was Virender Sehwag who first messaged him when the bribery scandal started in 2013. Sreesanth said that the problems in his personal life between 2013 and 2020 have strengthened him and he is grateful to the people of Kerala and Mathrubhumi supported him then.

Kishore Kumar said that children do not come to play volleyball which was once the main game of Kerala. Sports are the main fodder of Malayalis today. Parents don’t let their children play sports. He said that today’s children are interested in mobile games. “My friend asked one day what you will do if you become Prime Minister?” I said, first make homes without weight and sugar and subsidize them. Gas subsidy if you have a sportsman at home, free gas and electricity if you play for India. If a law like this is introduced, all mothers will wake their children early in the morning and let them play. Hence, Kerala and India will grow in sports – added Kishore Kumar.

Former Indian basketball team captain Geetu Anna Jose said that today’s kids don’t even get to play as many games as we used to.

Former Indian football player Joe Paul Ancheri said that the arrival of IACL has given a new revival to Indian football which started dying in 2014. He added that the Kerala government is also doing things for the growth of sports minister football.

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