Why The South Plays Ball Better

The environment: Besides great weather in places like Bangalore where people can train through the year, there is a positive environment that allows them to focus on skills and not drop out early.
Tradition: South India boasts of a rich sporting ethos, honed by a club culture, and has built on that to keep producing champions at all levels. There is more awareness and patronage of varied sports all over south India.
Good infrastructure: Each of the four southern states has organised at least the National Games, and hence boast of quality facilities. They have supported sports at the grassroots level.
Former champions' role: Many erstwhile champions in a number of sports plough back their expertise, and spend quality time nurturing young talent.
Better sports officials: There is some consensus that there is less politics in state sports associations in the south than elsewhere.
The quality of the athlete: Sportspersons in the south have a hunger to excel not just at the national level, they aim bigger to do well internationally.
Modesty: Success doesn't go to the head of champions from the south. They keep focused on their game.
Parental support: Parents attach great importance to achievement on the sports ground and encourage their children to specialise.
Government incentives: The southern states offer cash incentives to sporting achievers at all levels. Some states offer grace marks in exams to sportspersons.

Is it something in the air and water that the south produces an extraordinary number of stars, men and women, in all kinds of sports?