Corruption in Sports

Couple of days ago when I was going through Sports news I was shocked to learn about the match fixing in tennis. 

We all got introduced to the murky world of match fixing in Cricket, I think in the late 90's. Correct me if I am wrong. During the recent times we have  
also become aware of another type of fixing called Spot Fixing. 

But I was really stunned when I heard that it happens in tennis matches and that too for Grand slams tournaments such as Wimbledon Open.

It is very hard to understand why sports-persons resort to such lows. Not in only in Cricket and Tennis, I believe corruption is rampant in others sports as  well. For example, we are all aware of the corruption scandal which rocked the soccer world. This scandal was not by players, instead by the officials and  associates connected with FIFA. Coming to sports such as athletics, weightlifting doping is practiced. This is another kind of cheating.

Sports-persons belonging to Cricket, Football and Tennis are already paid handsomely. In Cricket and in cricket crazy country such as India, they need just  one or two performances to bring them out from the darkness of anonymity to the limelight of fame and adulation. If they continue their good performances,  they will be picked by franchises in cash rich leagues such as IPL. Once they replicate their form in IPL or vice versa, that is performing well in IPL and  then bursting on the national scene, they become the stars, people become fans, youngsters look up to them. Similarly in the world of Tennis, if a players is selected in the main draws of the grand slams such as Wimbledon it in itself is an achievement. I think it is the dream of many tennis players to play a grand slam and win it. Their name would be etched forever in the record books.

The people who indulge in corruption of sports should be given a stringent punishment. It includes right from a new youngster or any stalwart of the game. A harsh penalty should be imposed on them which should deter those who want to venture in that route. If any sports official is found guilty he should be awarded a more stringent punishment. The punishment should be set an example so that nobody should take that route.

I hope the corruption in sports can be eradicated but it is a tough task. In each sport there are people who want the sport be clean. Those people should come forward and shoulder responsibility to clean the sports world.

Many people follow at least one sport and they are passionate for that sport. They even have their role models. People watch sports with enthusiasm and it would be great they are played without any corruption, either on or off the field.