Advisor, Valiant Explorers Pvt Ltd.

Vishal Singh

My role with Valiant Explorers is to promote Polo events in Rajasthan and make Valiant participate in major Polo tournaments of Rajasthan where we can provide opportunities to Polo amateurs whether in India or overseas. Having a versatile army background so sports has been in my blood. Since the age of 14 years I started playing Polo as a professional and at the best grounds of the world. Hence, I have seen sportsperson’s life very closing. The struggle and the intricacies attached to their performance aren’t new to me. There are many occasions when you aren’t at the top of your level due to injuries or other things but you have to play and perform. So, you become a “Pro” or professional. In these circumstances you have to excel and create our own space in your game. Second biggest hindrance in the sportsperson’s career is the lack of financial support while they are playing professionally. There is no doubt that in the short term, there will be fewer sports opportunities. Thus, we have to prolong our career and maintain our longevity by self-financing our game or grab sponsors who have faith in our abilities. Increased competition and short sightedness are putting the squeeze on sports employment.

Talking about jobs in sports, who wants a job anyway if you are earning from established leagues which are primarily booming in India? While a good job provides many needs- money, challenge, learning, community, identity for instance- many jobs come with significant compromises which hampers the sportsperson to pursue his skills. A lot of workplaces and many managers are uninspiring and unfair. A sports job can create dependency and insecurity where you grimly hold on, driven by the fear of no options. Sometimes life’s circumstances are so tough that you simply hold on a job fearing that you might lose it and become a laughing stock within your social circle. Especially when you don’t have many options of creating finances for yourself.