Games and sports are no more considered as indulgences of the youngmen who have nothing better to do. The realisation has dawned that sports are necessary for all round development of the personality of a young person. Its personal, social, educational and national importance is being recognised. From the point of view of health, its development and maintenance games are imperative exercises. Today it is more important because the mechanised life leaves little scope for physical activities and exercises. Manual work has been taken over by mechanical, electric or electronic devices. Leg work has been substituted by automobiles. The lack of physical exertion has given us diseases likes indigestion, piles, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, blood pressure etc. The games and sports are the only means today to work the body to stay fit and tension free.
Only a physically fit person can work long, hard and cheerfully. A healthy person has healthy attitudes as a sound mind resides only in a sound body. Physical sports keep our body active, alert, vibrant and youthful. Blood circulation remain in full flow and oxygen in-take is greater. Compared to gym exercise, team sports generate good harmony and healthy competitive spirit. They also develop co-operation, leadership quality, team feeling and willingness to abide by the rules. The players are instilled with the spirit of self reliance, justice, fairplay and sportsmanship. Sport makes a person bold, social, co-operative, disciplined, adventurous and conscious of his responsibilities towards his family, society and nation. Sports activities use up all the excess energies of a youngman. That is why players are seldom associated with violent agitations others indulge in everyday. A sportsman has a calmed down mind to which only liberal thoughts appeal. He is opposed to superstitions, communalism, obseuratism and bigotism in national issues.
The games provide a unique excitement, thrill and joy besides entertaining. So the entire exercise becomes pleasantly interesting and confidence generating. The sporting exercise teaches one to take success and failure in sporting spirit. All these added advantages and gains make physical games much more preferable than the fitness exercises undertaken individually. A team player becomes tolerant, honest, secular, liberal, disciplined and abider by the rule of law. A sportsman has the spirit to face any challenge of life.
There is the famous saying—‘The battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton.’ The conqueror of Napoleon was an alumnus of Eton School on the play grounds of which he honed his leadership qualities, patriotic fervor, courage and indomitable spirit besides the team manship. It was Lord Nelson. The qualities developed during player days last for ever. They are the ingredients of success.
A sports person has the confidence and a sense of fairplay which in later life earns him the respect of others. Everyone appreciates fair dealing. He also has the respect for law which makes him an ideal citizen, a good worker and disciplined officer whatever he becomes. As a team player he grows the habit of learning rules and laws to abide by them, accepting the judgement of the umpire or referee, obeying the directives of the captain and coach and making required adjustments with other players. Everyone’s co-operation and harmony only can work for the success of the team. Life itself is a game. One gets married to make a doubles team. The rules of the game remain almost the same. For fouls one earns yellow cards and red cards. Then, children arrive to join the team. It is bigger team now. Husband and wife play the role of captain and coach, not necessarily in the same order. At work place there is another team to play for as a player or captain or coach. So the game of life goes on.
One can not find a better training place than a play ground for young persons to prepare for the real game of life. Victory or the defeat is not important but the way you play the game and show the spirit. The sports needs to be encouraged as it brings down the social tensions and the crime rate.
The games develop the character and good health which in turn go in improving quality of one’s life, gaining riches and success. It is a good sign that the governments, business houses, public undertakings, educational institutions and local bodies are becoming sports conscious. Larger funds are being allocated. At school and college level sports facilities need to be improved and expanded to encourage greater number of students to participate in sports and games. In promotion of game lies the healthy future of our country.