Those who are going against the article unable to understand the crux of it..I think this article is not to single out a particular athelete, but for whole of the atheletics scenario in India. It is a shame for us that we finished such low in the meddle tally, and we always talk about not having much facilities. I think we atleast have better faclities to Turkey,Thailand, Ethiopia, Iran ,Slovakia , Taiwan ,Georgia ,Jamaica , Kenya ..and the list goes on...
There is no excuse for such a disappointing performance...
when we will have a 74 yr old minister for sports and youth affairs when the ioc cheif mr suresh kalmadi would be still in power for past 15 years then surely u are bound to hear such excuses. leander and mahesh can accept their defeat because they play from their core of their heart for india and are unlike others who just play to make up numbers in the olympics
RE:we dont play to win
by Prasanna on Sep 01, 2004 04:46 PM
Hi all,
I being a leander fan for long time appreciate them for their contribution to indian tennis. They are really fantastic. But, I guess lee hesh loss in olympics was beacuse of their sheer over confidence. They thought they will do it easily. I saw how easily they let many(of our)points to their opponents in the lost games. No one can give any excuses for that. The opponent took full advantage of it. As they could not believe their loss, they had to accept it. What say?
Leander (& Mahesh), you should aim for gold and not bronze. Am sure you can do it the next time. All the best.
I am really really pissed off by this clueless Author, Biswajyoti Brahma.
Can the author run 100 meter under 11 second? Can the author run 400 meters under 46 second? Can the author dribble using hockey from one side to another of the field? Can the author lift weight twice his? Can the author jump more than his heights?
If the author can't answer yes to any question, he should keep his mouth shut because he is ignorant about what it takes to excell in Athletics.
To win any event, one needs facilities, coaches and necessary finacial support to participate in competitive sports. A sportsman in India typically supports himself with little or no support from any one. The athletic facilties are non-existent. I don't understand why should a sportsman be resposbile to win medals for any one other than for her or his own sake?
What did any one do for them? Did you sponsor their training from school days? Or did you took care of their family support so that they can practice day and night? If not, so, why are you expecting them to win medals for you like a parasite?
To me, they did their best - if the best was not good enough, so be it.
good piece
by abc on Sep 01, 2004 01:25 AM
Dear Sir A good story. But some of these so called experts, who have sent comments, probably dont know that crores of Rupees are being spent on these athletes every year with the hope that they can do something good at the highest level. All these elite athletes must have taken lakhs and even crore of rupees for training abroad. But what the use? No need to write what the sport federations are doing, but these athletes also must be held accountable for their show. How long we are going to be happy with their fourth, fifth and sixth place finishes? They all go to Olympics to win medals and not just to participate. For that matter any one, just tom, dick harry can go and be India's representative which would definitely not put any burden on the country's exchequer. How long we are going to wait. Since 1928 till date --76 years -- we have won just three bronze and a silver in individual events. Isn't it a shame? The sorry part is that we get overwhelmed if we win just a bronze or silver. Probably the entire country will go crazy if ever we win a gold. we must learn something from China, their will to win and not satisfy with anything below the top place finish.
Hi All, The Author may be harsh on the Athlets but there is truth inhis remarks. We Indians are not aggressive and competitive, We are still in the phase of participating even after 100 years of Olympics. Look at some poor African countries like Ethiopia where lakhs of people are dying because of hunger, they are producing world champions since many years, Look at the show of our hockey players who were sent to U.S for training before the olympics and the boxers who were given reasonable training. We are not yet ready for international compitition by infrastructure and by mindset. Aim bulls eye atleast u will hit the nearer circle.Within 20 years China has gone from 0 to 32 golds. If we are satisfied by 4th places and 6th places and with our current performances it will take 100 years to reach their standards.Accept the fact what we dont have that instinct,spirit in us not only in sports but in lot of other things.
Uncharitable to say our folks come out with excuses; remember you are competing with the best trained men and women, who spend lot ot time/money into the event, and are backed fully by their associations; We do not support athletics or swimminig or other activities with gusto; we pamper cricketeers ONLY; even hockey our forte, is given less importance. Pity. We have good gymnasts in circus, dedicated swimmers in our villages, footballers etc; but who spends money and takes real interest in promoting their talent to international standard; Frankly NONE. Then why blame the reps who did their best; officialdom and influence should cease and professionalism should be encouraged in earnest; I am sure our people are much more capable if properly trained; can give a sterling performance. See China, who bagged many medals and the way they look after their reps in every arens. We must study their methods, if needed, and we can SHOW our prowess, sure. Peayen
Reasons why US and China are #1 and #2 may be clear. But the reasons why India shamefully ranks #66 are not the very same ones. Rather reason is simple: All the wrong people represent the country at olympics. Country being poor and the state not sponsoring the athletics are dumb excuses. Athletes are not created but they are born with the talent. At the most a society can do is to identify the right ones and simply reject the wrong ones. And stop praying to God. He can't make an incompetent athlete win. And people must stop their wishful thinking and making statements like "my/his/her best is yet to come". If your best has not come yet, it's not going to come ever. And olympics is not a stage to display your bravery but good winning performances. Promote the adivasis of India. They've the right genes. I'm sure that even if half the money is spent on them they'll come back with better results. Anyone who ever complains about anything should simply be shown the way and let the better ones take over.
RE:Re: The Great Indian Excuses return
by Ramesh on Sep 01, 2004 04:15 AM
To write about something you dont have to be an expert in it. To coach a sport you dont have to be the best in the sport. The writer is doing his job, thats writing an article on our shoddy show in olympics, thats his opinion .... which every one needent agree but the bottom line, that our performance was pathetic, is a fact. We have nothing from the olympics from 77 contenders with over 100 crores spent in the last four years by the olympic commtiee. The money spent might not be great but it is huge for just one silver medal. Last time it was a single bronze, this time single silver, next time what.. single gold. The rate of progress is too slow to catch up. So there is something wrong, not only in the facilities but also in the faculty and management. And the fact that all our athelets have excuses for their performances is quite strange. Thats a big concidence. When money is spent and there are no results then some one has to be accountable, in this case its the management and also the athletes.
I think Indian government shoud provide more aid (aid amount should not go into politicians pocket)for training the athletes to compete at the highest level. Also, the real talent has to be spotted out and given a chance instead of selecting athletes based on some recommendation.
Before the olympics set a goal that atleast 20 athletes have world record in their field and work towards the goal.
