India and Olympics

Modern International Olympic Games started in 1896. Every 4 years since then the Olympics arrived except for during World War I & II when it was cancelled (1916, 1940, and 1944). Till date 27 Olympics have taken place.

Although India first participated in 1900 with an Anglo-Indian Norman Pritchard winning two silver medals the more organized official representation of India was made in 1928 Amsterdam with Indian Olympic Association coming into existence in 1927. Dorabji Tata was its first President. India won its 1st gold in Hockey under the captaincy of Jaspal Singh. For next 6 succesive Olympics Indian Hockey Team retained their gold medal. Major Dhyanchand played crucial role in the 1st three successive wins. India played 24 matches and won all 24. The last two gold in Hockey in Olympic were won in Tokyo 1964 and Moscow 1980.

Apart from 11 medals in Hockey (8 Gold, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze), India has won 4 medals in Shooting (1 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze), 4 medals in Wrestling (1 Silver and 3 Bronze), 2 Silver in Athletics, 1 bronze in Weightlifting, 1 bronze in Badminton and 1 bronze in Table-tennis.

1.3 billion Strong country is still chasing for elusive gold. It’s really shameful. It is time people realized that we have fallen way down in our Hockey skills and playing techniques. What was more shameful that India failed even to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. Playing Pakistan is what we are fit for, just for the clash of neighbors. Also with all the facilities available upto international standards, there are no excuses. Our players were struggling to play on artificial turf ground. They were lacking physical fitness though it was claimed before starting of Olympics that new coach Snub has improved the medical fitness of the team.

SAI spent around Rs. 135 Crore in 16 disciplines in 2011-2012. In 2009, an unprecedented Rs 678 Crore was given to Sports Authority of India (SAI) to enable the core group of elite athletes to train and compete abroad, to train coaches and officials and to upgrade SAI’s training centers. Even there has been funds and expertise by not-for-profit organization for 30 of 81 strong Indian contingent at London. Beside help for athletes there has also been corporate sponsorship for sports academies.

1. In India where the government promotes only cricket, sportsmen from other fields suffer due to lack of basic infrastructure and facilities. In a report Beijing Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra said that he had to get his personal shooting range for practice as the facilities provided by the authorities were below par.
2. Kids in India are forced to study and even if they want to play sports there are no sports facilities in schools.
3. The same army is not ready to promote its own employee but it can bestow Lt. Col. Title on Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
4. Mismanagement is rife and corruption the deadly problem. The meals served at the SAI’s residential centers do not meet the nutritional requirement.
5. Most physiotherapists and medical staff hired by SAI are “clueless” about managing elite sportspeople. The ones SAI has now are more of a danger to athletes than help.
6. In every sports federation we have politician and bureaucrats occupying all the positions. There is no transparency and accountability. Amidst all these problems we cannot blame our players.

This year’s haul of 6 medals is not bad considering India just won 1 bronze in the 1996 Olympics. The progression is: 1 (2004), 3 (2008), 6 (2012),? (2016). What’s more heartening is that 2 of the 6 medals were won by women and winning at these events bring more attention to other sports.

China which won its 1^st Gold in 1984 Olympics has since risen meteorically to win as many as 51 Gold medals in Beijing Olympics and still leading with 38 Gold in London Olympics.

Success succeeds Success. Cricket took off because India started doing well from the 1980s. India’s recent success in shooting, archery, badminton, boxing and wrestling has drawn many youngsters to these sports.  We should give importance and encourage other sports as well or it may become like Hockey’s glorious past.

What we need to do now is to create sporting infrastructure so that India’s children have the opportunity to play sports and to provide the resources to spot talent.

• Monetary reward and secure future as grade B officers in Sports federation for Olympians will play a very effective role in more talents coming forward and many medals in Olympics.

Media, Schools and Universities should step in to fund the training and travel for the talented. That’s how it works in most of the world. And as Ajay Maken (Sports Minister) said we will get 20 medals in 2020.