The Value of Sports

An important duty of a student

The real value of games and sports cannot be overestimated, though a bookworm may not be able to realize it. There is no denying the fact that the main duty of a student is to study and gain knowledge but games and sports have their own charm and place in his life.

Fresh air

First, sports are outdoor games and they are played on a playground. It means that we get a good supply of fresh air which is so important for our existence and healthy living.

Exercise

Secondly, they entail a fair amount of physical exercise which increases our blood circulation and leads to better digestion. This improves our appetite and various body systems. In this way, we are saved from the onslaught of various diseases.

Concentration, aloofness, blood circulation, etc.

Thirdly, after a fair amount of exercise, we get a good sleep at night which gives the necessary rest to our mind, nerves, and limbs. This enhances our power of concentration and mental agility and brings cheerfulness and joy to us. Thus, we can study, walk, talk, comingle and interact with others in a better manner, as we are thereby always in a hilarious mood.

Fair competition

Fourthly, sports inspire in us the spirit of healthy competition as we try to excel in others. This gives us an opportunity to learn a lesson in the art of having a fair competition for which we have to fight in all walks later in life.

Discipline

Fifthly, through sports, we learn the value of discipline which is so vital for success and order in life. It is this discipline that enables us later to join the forces or work in some office or factory.

Virtues – punctuality, leadership, obedience, team spirit, etc.

Sixthly, sports instill into our minds the qualities and virtues of punctuality, leadership, obedience, team spirit, self-sacrifice, and a lot of other qualities.

The energy of youth properly channelised

Seventhly, through sports, the overflowing energy of the youth is properly channelised instead of being abused to form evil habits and fall into bad company.

Spirit of sportsmanship

Eighthly, sports teach the players the spirit of sportsmanship which is so indispensable to a successful life. A real sportsman (or sportswoman) neither feels excessively happy about success nor is dejected in the face of failure. Such a sportsman plays a game for the sake of the game and not just for victory. Thus, he/she learns grace, dignity, generosity, forbearance, humility, and other virtues.

Quick wittedness

Ninthly, sports make a player attain such qualities as mental agility, quick-wittedness, frankness, and high moral purpose in life.

Social status

Tenthly, a sportsman is held in high esteem in all social circles. Now, a fair amount of seats are reserved in every competitive examination for sports persons. Thus, now, purely on a material basis also a sportsperson has a great advantage over others.

More opportunities in life

Lastly, a sportsman often gets one or more opportunities in life to travel to different lands and regions to play. Thus he gets recreation and comes into contact with others. He also gets an opportunity to spend his leisure most usefully and in a constructive way.

Government help

Now, the central and state governments have full-fledged – sports ministries to promote sports and improve a lot of sportspersons. Now, there are special posts that are meant only for the people of this category.

Our government is now spending a lot of money to promote sports. But it is a pity that Indian teams except for some exceptions have rarely proved their mettle in the international arena. Indians hardly win any medals in the Olympics. In the Asian Games their performance is better, but still not up to the extent of matching our mammoth population. Of course, some of our sportsmen and athletes like Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Saurav Ganguli, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Dhyan Chand, Balbir Singh, Milkha Singh, P.T. Usha, and others have won great laurels, but still much needs to be done. We should give proper diet and help to sportsmen and women and have a fair selection of all teams going to play abroad.

It is painful to note that some sportsmen and teams even at the international level do not realize the real value of sports. They cannot appreciate that sports are played for the sake of playing, that is, for participation and not just for victory. Such people try to win the game by hook or by crook. Some sportsmen and women use steroids and other drugs to artificially improve their performance. Sometimes, the umpires and referees are found to be partial. Let all of us learn the spirit of sportsmanship and think of participation to the best of our capacity instead of aiming at mere victory.