Patna: India's third-most-populous state not contributing to India's record medal haul at the recent Asian Games did not come as a surprise for anyone; because in Bihar, infrastructure for sportspersons is non-existent, coaches are engaged in pushing files, the state "Olympic association" functions out of a residence, and the government and the association play passing the buck.

At the recently concluded Asian Games held at Jakarta Palembang, India won 69 medals but from Bihar, with a population of around 11 crore, only two players participated: Shreyasi Singh in shooting, and Yamini Singh in rowing. Shreyasi, a gold medallist in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, finished sixth in the women's double trap event in Malaysia.

Shama Parveen, a 22-year-old from Mokama, was among the standby players of the Indian women's kabaddi team that went to the Asian Games but she was not part of the team that settled for silver at the Asian Games, upstaged by Iran.

"The biggest challenge for players is infrastructure and trained coaches," said Parveen, who was felicitated with a cheque of Rs 35 lakh by the state government at the Khel Samman Samaroh event on August 29 in Patna. "I had participated at different international events such as Asian championship and others, but due to poor infrastructure and coaching I found it a challenge to perform at international events."

Parveen practises at her school ground without a kabaddi mat. There are no National Institute of Sports (NIS) coaches to help her upgrade her game.

Bihar Kabaddi Association secretary Kumar Vijay said: "Our players perform well at the sub-junior level, but at the senior level the performance is dismal as there are no NIS-trained coaches and necessary infrastructure to upgrade skills."

A decade ago the state government had selected around a dozen NIS-trained coaches for different sports but these coaches are not providing training and are working at the sports directorate looking after official files, said sources in the know.

Patna girl Pooja Kumari, who had participated at international taekwondo events at Chinese Taipei in 2014 and Canada in 2016, is also dejected as she was not selected in the Asian Games squad.

"I could not qualify in the team which participated at Asian Games as my performance was not up to international standards," the 20-year-old said.

"We are still practising the game on a cemented court, we don't have a mat and other necessary equipment such as electronic chest guard, pad and arm guards."

Official apathy

The Bihar Olympic Association (BOA) hardly organises any event or trials even though it is the highest body for selection of players. Sources said that as the BOA is not under the state government, the sports department cannot interfere much in its functioning. The BOA has no permanent office; its secretary, Mohammed Mushtaque Ahmed, runs his office from his residence.

"Lack of proper infrastructure and trained coaches is the main reason behind the BOA not organising events at regular intervals," Ahmed said.

He blamed the state government for the apathy towards sports and sportspersons.

"In 2011, the chief minister laid the foundation stone for construction of an Astroturf hockey stadium in the Rajendra Nagar area but even after passing of more than seven years the construction work of stadium is yet to commence," he pointed out.

The BOA is affiliated with the Indian Olympic Association and its office bearers often visit foreign countries. Recently, Ahmed, who is also secretary general of Hockey India, visited Jakarta. He also went to Australia in April for the Commonwealth Games.

The state government, on its part, blamed the BOA for not taking interest in holding sports meets.

"The state government does not organise any sports event; it is the sports association which organises such events. The government's work is to assist them," said art culture and youth affairs minister Krishna Kumar Rishi.

The minister claimed that the government is creating sports infrastructure, and cited a planned hockey stadium in Purnea district. However, when asked about the lack of coaches or better sports facilities like other states have, the minister refused to say anything and disconnected the call.