Manoj Tiwary, the former Indian cricketer and Minister of State for Sports in West Bengal, shared his frustrations regarding the political landscape affecting sports in the state. In a recent video message, Tiwary revealed that he had attempted to establish a Centre of Excellence for track and field athletes in collaboration with Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake. However, his proposal was rejected by state Sports Minister Aroop Biswas, whom he accused of preventing him from fulfilling his ministerial duties due to insecurity. Tiwary lamented the lost opportunity to enhance sports infrastructure in Bengal, especially considering the state's substantial sports budget of INR 700 Crore (approximately $84 million USD). He expressed his desire to support young athletes but felt sidelined politically. Additionally, Tiwary mentioned his relief at not attending the Lionel Messi event in Kolkata, recalling that he was deliberately excluded from the prize distribution stage, which he believed humiliated the state's football community. His remarks highlight the challenges faced by sports officials in navigating political dynamics while striving for development.