‘“We’re losing potential champions”: Sajan Prakash on burnout and the state of Indian Swimming’
Do-time Olympian Sajan Prakash ne athlete welfare ki seriousness ko uthaya hai, aur apni journey ke saath Indian swimming ke system par bhi seedhi baat ki.
Great talent, weak support
Sajan bolte hain: “Mera kisi par burai karna nahi tha. Bas yeh bolna tha ki India mein kitaab-ke tarah talent hai. Lekin agar hum usko sahi tarah channel nahi karein, toh hum potential champions kho dete rahenge.” (The Bridge)
Unki khud ki journey ne bataya hai ki support kaafi kam hai: training continuous chalegi, recovery kam hogi — toh burnout aayega. (The Bridge)
Personal fight with burnout
Sajan ne bataya ki Tokyo 2020 ke baad unhe aisa phase aaya jab unhe lagne laga tha ki shayad ruk jaana chahiye. “Burnout tha,” woh kehte hain. “Training bina sahi support ke, physical aur mental dono pe heavy padti hai.” (The Bridge)
System ki instability
Unka kehna hai: Abroad swimmers ek structured pipeline se guzarte hain — young age se proper support, data, long-term development programs hote hain. India mein aisa nahi hai: “Young swimmers sab kuch early de dete hain, jaldi burn ho jaate hain, aur peak pe pahunchne se pehle fade ho jaate hain.” (The Bridge)
Aur foreign programs import karna accha hai, lekin woh sidha India mein fit nahi baithte. “Humari genetics, environment alag hai. Science-backed, individualised programs chahiye,” Sajan kehte hain. (The Bridge)
Funding aur welfare ka gap
Sajan ne ye bhi highlight kiya: “Authorities swimmers ko fund nahi karte agar woh key tournaments ke qualification cuts pass nahi karte. Hum khud se pay karte hain – travel, training, competition sab. Koi safety-net nahi.” (The Bridge)
Unhone kuch organisations ka mention kiya, jaise support milta hai, lekin systemically ek proper cushion nahi hai. (The Bridge)
Agla phase: Champion se coach tak
Agle year ke Asian Games unke liye ek important competition ho sakta hai — shayad unka final major event. Uske baad Sajan dheere-dheere coaching mein shift honge. (The Bridge)
Woh kehte hain ki unhone coaches jaise Pradeep Kumar aur Nihar Ameen ko dekha hai jo Indian swimming standard ko upar le jaane ki koshish kar rahe hai. Ab woh khud bhi mentoring aur system improvement me contribute karna chahte hain. (The Bridge)
