Sports Federations in India Sucks

There is a lot I want to write about- about work, about family, about IPL. I don’t know where to start from. Let’s keep work aside for a while. I could continue writing till eternity cribbing about the work and the work place.
For a change, I’ll talk about sports in India from my point of view. I have this little cousin who is amazing at swimming. She's the national champ in swimming. She’s broken several national records with her amazing skills. She has won gold medals for India at the Southeast Asian Federation games at Colombo, Sri Lanka. She has proved her caliber time and again. But the problem is her sponsorship. My aunty and uncle are not able to sponsor her for bigger tournaments. Swimming is an expensive sport. The government doesn't bother. All the government bothers is about cricket.
I always believed that to become big in any sport, you need to know influential people. My faith has only become stronger. BCCI has allotted some crores of rupees for the upliftment of sports other than cricket. A very good deed. Dying sports like hockey, football, and swimming could do with such funds. But what’s the use of such funds if deserving people cannot make use of it? What’s the use of such funds if you cannot make use of it unless you know influential people?
My sister received a call from the Swimming Federation of India and told her parents that they plan on sending her to Mexico for a big event. Good news, isn’t it? But there were some clauses that they could just not agree upon. :( Her parents had to arrange for 1.40 lakhs to send her to Mexico. And the Swimming Federation being a government body weren't ready to sponsor her. They said that they have to arrange for the moolah now and later they "might" get it reimbursed from the government. Might?? This is crazy. And yes, her parents had to give the Federation an answer right then. What was to happen? Her father had to refuse saying that they might not be able to arrange for that kind of money.
I know that my sister must have been heartbroken on hearing that she will not be able to make it to Mexico because of the funds. And to top it, her colleague is going to replace her. A colleague who hasn’t performed as well as she has, but her parents can easily arrange for the funds. Imagine my sister having to wish this "lesser deserving" candidate the very best for the games. This candidate’s family can easily arrange for the 1.40 lakhs themselves, but they are going to take the funds from BCCI's allotment for other sports. Why could my sister not make use of this allotment?? She isn't the niece of a very famous cricket commentator.
I know this is how the world functions these days. I cannot blame other people for it. In today's world, if you have money and fame, the world is your playground. I would have expected my family to stand up for her and arrange funds for her. I know I could have chipped in with whatever I have. But alas, I cannot. I have bought a house and I am clearing off the loan for it. Was buying a house when we already had one really important? I have no answers to that. After hearing this, I am not too sure. My older uncle has a very big flat in one of the classiest areas of Mumbai. He has another big flat in another budding area of Mumbai. The interiors of his house must be worth a bomb. He’s got 2 good cars. But still, he cannot help her with 1.40 lakhs. My younger uncle has 2 flats in another swish locality in Mumbai. He’s migrated abroad now. Don't know if he knows about this, but I don’t know if he could have helped. I know they might all have their own problems, but this is what I feel from the outside. If they have problems of their own, I am sorry but I am just feeling bad for this champion sister of mine.
I wish I could do something for her. She has been performing and proving her worth time and again. But, unfortunately, she’s never got her share of luck. A lot of people have made big bucks because of her. Her coach is, today, India's most sought after swimming coach. Thanks to the laurels my sister got for him. He coaches in the one of the biggest swimming clubs of Mumbai. He's bought himself a big car. He hasn't forgotten his champion swimmer. He recognizes and thanks her repeatedly. But I do not understand why he cannot find a sponsor for her?? If he is trying, we will all be grateful.I just hope something good happens for her soon.
I know she is heartbroken after she learnt that her colleague is making the most of her lost opportunity. Don't worry, gal. Hang in there. I am sure success is round the corner. All this is only going to make the taste of success sweeter.