To all the armchair olympian heroes denigrating the performance of our sportsmen at the current Olympic Games this is what we must remember :
For two whole generations we were fed on the maxim that it was more important to play the game in the spirit of the game than to win.
It is only over the past few years, after Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won the silver at Athens that we realised that we could compete at the highest levels, and that we could win a few medals, maybe even gold, at the Olympics. Abhinav Bindra did that last time around.
We are therefore almost 50 years behind countries like the USA, 30 years behind China, and at least 20 years behind South Korea.
At least we have started winning medals in the Olympics now. Prior to 2004, winning a medal in the Olympics (other than in Hockey) was considered the biggest fluke in the world.
Now we may not be winning as many medals as these armchair olympians would like, but then the whole world is not standing still, with baited breath, to hand over gold medals to our athletes once we participate.
We have to give our sportsmen time. If we have the will, surely we will find the way. It may take another 10 years or even 20, but surely we will get there.
India is not a sporting nation overall.As a result of which very few get into sports ,and if you take out cricket from it,very few are left pursuing other sports.That is the reason India does not do well in team sports like football,hockey etc.They do well in individual sports because of the support and extra hard work the athletes put in.Unless we show consistent good performance at the highest level ,people will not follow the game.Good and consistent performance at the highest level is the only way we can build up support and base for a sport. Just as an example,if India was doing well in football in Asia,many more would follow the as that would throw up some stars.
Remember last time India had one a gold medal.If India fails to win at least one gold medal after the end of this olympics,it would be disappointing,since its gold which matters.It also means we were completely unprepared for this olympics.I would also blame the corporate sector partly for this for not investing in lots of other sports like swimming,track and field,cycling where India has lot of talent.Its doesn't matter how many silvers or bronzes you win,its of no use if in the end you don't win at least one gold.The correct sort of mentality needs to be put in the mind of our sportsmen and this is media's job.The sportsmen need to be made aware what they have to do to win gold in olympics.Those who think they can just go their for having fun or vacation,need to be shown the door out of the olympic squad.The olympic squad should be selected on the basis of who is more hungry to win that particular olympic event in which he/she is participating and who has the ability to produce something special which can give them the glory of a lifetime.We don't want atheletes who lack fighting spirit.
Re: Saina Great
by madan menon on Aug 07, 2012 04:02 PM
yes, this does not call for a large scale celebration.if she had won gold / silver the celebrations have some justification...but this time some small celebration will do..
Re: Saina Great
by Raja on Aug 07, 2012 04:33 PM
God helps them who help themselves. Saina is a great player and her reching semi final or winning it was no accident. Top class players have had help many times due to act of God. Remember the hand of God controversy against Maradona.Maradona went on to win great many things but England team is still searchin for hand of god. Hand of god or no hand of god Saina is the most consistent badminton player ever producded by India.Her record speaks for itself. Except for semifinal loss Saina has defeated both the other chinese girls earlier recently. She has defeated the eventual gold medal winner very recently when she was trailing. The match is available on You tube. Please view it. Finally the match was abondened in the semis because her opponent was not fit. Is it Sainas fault that her opponent is not fit. Really you are expecting too much.
v indian hardly put any effort for football & olympic... these athletes trying hard to get medals... dat itself is achievment.... now i wish i cud make my son athlete... wish he cud compete sprint....will try to make him athlete(have 2 kids).......medal can make frm our home... does v really care for medals at olampic???
