Thiruvananthapuram: Instead of spending ₹100 crore to bring Messi, that money should be used to provide better facilities for our own athletes, said Anju Bobby George, senior vice-president of the Indian Athletics Federation and former athlete. The state had aimed to bring Messi using CSR funds and sponsorships from private companies. Efforts should instead be made to channel such funds towards strengthening basic infrastructure in the sports sector, she told journalists at the LNCPE, Kariavattom.

Kerala has many talented athletes. However, not many new athletes are emerging from the state now. The allocation for sports in Kerala’s budget is low. At present, Kerala is also not showing much interest in hosting national championships. Proper maintenance is essential to ensure that infrastructure does not deteriorate. The current condition of stadiums built in Kerala for the National Games is deplorable. States such as Haryana and Odisha are providing much stronger support to the sports sector, Anju said.