Why Parents don't want their children to pursue sports as a career?

Have you ever watched a professional sports match, be it cricket or football, and staring at the players you get so inspired that you close your eyes and place yourself in their position, with the crowds roaring and millions cheering for you?

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This is quite often imagined by every one of us, as from a young age we cheer for our nation and watch players receive fame and love from their country. Every person, at least once in their life considers pursuing their sport as a professional career. However, our society insists on placing academics first and co-curricular second and in such a scenario, even a child with incredible talent loses his shine and his sport fades into the background and becomes just a temporary hobby.

In India, parents are only enthusiastic about a child’s involvement in sports for the first few years of his or her life. This is largely due to the health benefits that a child receives by exercising through physical activity. However, by the time children reach 10th and 12th standard, due to the nearing board exams, they are pulled out of sports as parents think it is a diversion to academics and children should rather devote their time and energy towards academics. Sports are considered an interference as far as a child’s academics are concerned.