MONIKA TRIPATHY
monika.tripathy26@gmail.com

WHO SHOULD SUCCEED KALMADI?

Sports and politics do not jell. But in India, politicians run sports for the sheer business of it. There is money to be laundered, dirty tricks to be played, and limelight to be stolen. Therefore they are there cutting across party lines.

Just think of Sachin Tendulkar succeeding Suresh Kalmadi and the enormous prestige and grandeur it would lent to Commonwealth Games. It would have inspired the common man’s faith in commonwealth and sparked his enthusiasm in sports. It would have won the global admiration India deserves.

Think of Abhinav Bindra donning the mantle and all guns will salute the master shoot-man. That would have electrified the youth of the country and restored their faith in the system. Shashi Tharoor would have added panache to Commonwealth, with his experience in foreign affairs and sporting his foreign wife. But Lalit Modi is class apart and would have turned it into a global gladiatorial show, giving the Chinese a run for their money.

Laloo Prasad would have made a good mascot for Commonwealth Games and saved embarrassment for the species of animal. Since there was no railway safety involved, Mamata could be kept out of the games. Just think of the possibilities because you don’t have just 60 days to think!