Long before India sent its biggest contingent for Rio 2016,
sports enthusiasts and analysts had forecasted a big medal haul for the Indian
players in the Summer Olympics.
The amazing performance in London 2012 aroused
expectations around the country. Sakshi Malik and P.V Sindhu, no
doubt lived on those prospects by winning the only medals for India but somewhere
down the line, everybody felt that it could have been better, much much better.
On the other hand, the performances of many others were laudable too. Take Dipa
Karmakar for instance, her Produnova was vastly appreciated more than words could have
describe it. Aditi Ashok impressed with her shots in golf too. But what actually
failed did we fail to conceive? Why are we failing to win medals in subsequent Olympic
Games? Are Indians not genetically good with sports? Why is it that a country
with a population exceeding a billion people fails to win even half the amount
of medals of what countries like Ethiopia and Azerbaijan wins?
It has been long seen that Indians seldom care about sports
unless it is cricket. The Government would reward these medal winners with some
cash prizes and they would remain in the dark for the next four years, until
the next Olympic Games. When they would be expected to continue winning
medals as well. People would remember their names only during the Games. Once the
event gets over, nobody even care to remember their faces. People would
argue that current times are changing and Indians do watch sports like football,
badminton or for a change, kabaddi. But the reality is that football garner
interest only during the period when the ISL goes on, badminton during the Premier
Badminton League and kabaddi around the times of Pro Kabaddi League. And beyond
that, people would fail to identify Pullela Gopichand.
If India is to be counted among the top sporting nations,
then we are going to need more than the usual patriotism-filled posts in social
media during the Olympic Games. We are obviously proud that all these Indian
players have reached such an elite stage in Rio without any substantial efforts
from the sports officials in our esteemed country. But we have to stop being
happy and content at being fourth or for that matter, a hard fought match where
a medal got eluded by a whisker. The Government has to bring in huge and
necessary funds to upgrade to the proper infrastructure which is a must. It is
also necessary to develop sports from scratch i.e tender ages of the sportsperson's.
Facilities must be available for utilizing it at all costs. As they say,
develop the grassroots level and you will eventually reap the benefits of the fruits.
The fine cash-minting leagues trending in our country are fine, but what India
really requires is a good sports culture, which needs to be developed at the elemental
level. Look at the case of Jamaica. Track events every year are ruled by them.
Talents are available in every nook and corner. It is only required to find
them and fine tune their skills.
And we on the other hand, must bring in the concept of
sports and fitness amongst us. Children should be encouraged to take up sports
as a profession rather than just a hobby. We have come a long way since our
planet bloomed. It is high time we shun the traditional thought where life is surrounded
by only books. Education is important but a career in sports shouldn’t be
snatched away from a person, if he or she has a passion for it.
Until then, cherish on the glories brought about by the two
sportspersons of our country!
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