Sports arena set for party rivalry

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, 09 Jan 2020, Gangtok: The political rivalry between the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha and the opposition Sikkim Democratic Front is all set to extend to the badminton arena when teams owned by leaders associated with both the parties lock horns at the ALKEM Jorethang Premier Badminton League 2.

Four out of the six teams in the two-day franchise-based league, which will be held at the Jorethang Badminton Arena on February 15 and 16, are owned by leaders of the two parties. The fifth team in the fray also has a political connect with its co-owner being none other than football legend and leader of Hamro Sikkim Party Bhaichung Bhutia. The first edition of the tournament in 2018 had teams owned by leaders of the SDF, which was in power then, but none by SKM leaders. This time, the equation is loaded in favour of the ruling party, whose leaders own three teams, including Dallam Express (by state power minister M.N. Sherpa), David Warriors (Jacob Khaling, the political secretary to chief minister P.S. Tamang (Golay), and the latter's son and MLA Aditya), and Salghari Zoom Blockers (MLA Sunita Gajmer).

Former minister G.M. Gurung is the only SDF leader to own a team, Red Panda GMTS, this time. "Sports and politics are different. I am taking part in the tournament because I love sports and games," he told The Telegraph, pooh-poohing suggestion that the political rivalry would be played out in a sporting arena.

On the contrary, Gurung said whatever the political beliefs of the players might be, they should forget all about them and focus solely on the sport once they hit the courts. "Sport is about promoting sporting spirit and sense of healthy competitiveness. Politics, on the other hand, is mother of everything," he said.

Other politician owners also echoed Gurung. "This has nothing to do with politics. I have always been passionate about badminton. In fact, I was a member of my school team when we won an all-India public school tournament," said Bhaichung, adding that he chose to be part of United Sikkim Shuttlers after coowner Tarundeep Rai, the ace archer, approached him.

Jigmey Namgyal, the president of Badminton Association of Jorethang (BAJ), which is organising the league, said sports could actually become a unifying factor. "This time, the teams are owned by people cutting across party lines. This can actually become a unifying factor. There is no politics in sports," said Namgyal, who is the brain behind the tournament.

The tournament will see 66 players from the six teams in action during the course of the two days. All of them, including six women, are local shuttlers who were brought by their respective teams at an auction held two days ago.

Amol Rai of Poklok Warriors was bought at the highest price of Rs 20,800 among men, and Tashi Choden of Red Panda GMTS was the most expensive player among women.

All teams will play against each other once in a fivematch rubber and the top four teams will make it to the semifinals. "The winners will get Rs 2.5 lakh and the runners-up Rs 1.5 lakh. This is the biggest purse on offer in any sporting event in the state," said Namgyal.