I am not someone who supports the current trend of heaping winning players and teams with breathtaking bonanzas like houses, cars, land and money. After all they already receive funding and training from the country. After that, it is their job to do their best, just the same as any other professional. Besides any sports success, also earns extra rewards in the form of lucrative advertising and endorsement deals. So why should the State go overboard for what is essentially a good job done.

However even I have been shocked at the tawdry treatment of the Asian Champions Trophy-winning Indian Team which was awarded a paltry sum of Rs.25,000 per player by the Hockey Federation of India. It came as no surprise that the team outrightly rejected the award.

Arguably one of the most difficult sports in the world, hockey requires a great deal of strength, stamina and co-ordination. It is dubbed our national sport yet has been pushed into the shade by India's cricket craze. This ‘Gentleman’s Game’ has become the country's biggest money-spinner. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has lost matches in a row, has endorsements worth hundreds of crores, including the latest deal worth Rs 29 crores. He is the face of 23 brands and charges over Rs. 6 crore per endorsement. On the other hand, Yuvraj Walmiki who scored the winning goal lives in abject poverty.

His home is a cramped 16x16 sq feet shack where there has been no electricity supply for 18 years now. With no water supply either, his family has to resort to using the public toilet in the neighborhood. His mother had tears of joy after his victory, but no money to buy sweets – she had to borrow the money for even the most basic celebration. Yuvraj deserves better. If there is a worthy case for rewarding a sports hero, then this is it.

It is time we stop indulging our pampered those who overcome adversity to achieve glory for themselves and the nation. If we want to encourage our national sport, this is a good time and place to do it.