India, Jan. 31 -- A miserable sporting January, would you not agree? Outside of the effervescence of the WPL and the radiance of Virat Kohli, what else made news in the first month of the year? India's boxing nationals start four days after schedule because of government restrictions in force due to severe pollution. Within two weeks of the new year, two girl trainees, 15 and 17, are found hanging in their room at Sports Authority of India's hostel in Kollam.

This awful tragedy was followed by the organisational farce of pigeons, monkeys and Delhi air of the India Open badminton. And the latest is news of pole-vaulters, including national champion and record holder, being asked to get off a train as they were carrying their competition p...