Sunday, 26 March 2017
Sunday, 7 January 2007
Wake up to the rising India
Ever since India began participating in the Olympics, the Games this year have fetched us the best results till now. India has won three medals, one gold and two bronze in Beijing.
As the celebrations die down, an inevitable question arises - who should be given the credit for India’s improved showing at the Games - the precious three medals?
Shooter Abhinav Bindra, boxer Vijender Kumar and wrestler Sushil Kumar have won individual medals owing to their own hard work and determination, and the able guidance provided by their coaches.
Despite the inadequacies of the system and the poor infrastructure in the country, our men have proved their worth. What role did the sports authorities play in their success? Not really much.
Except Bindra, who had the solid support of his affluent background, others were not lucky enough. Vijender’s father is a driver with Haryana Roadways and Sushil Kumar’s father is a driver with the MTNL.
Ordinarily, such families would first think of getting employment in order to earn a livelihood than dream of an Olympic medal. Yet, they chose to follow their sons’ dreams and motivated them to reach the Olympic podium.
This amounts to showing immense courage and putting in tremendous efforts. And in the end, they won against all odds. Not just a podium finish for the boxers, but a moral victory for all Indian sportspersons.
The Bhiwani Boxing Club (BBC) which trained Vijender, Jitender and Akhil, stands at a place which was virtually out of the way till a couple of days back, lacking proper roads or anything that could be comparable to international standards. The same holds true about most other sports training facilities across the country. Yet our boxers have overcome all difficulties and done the country proud.
So, if individual efforts could fetch us three medals, some more assistance from the authorities and the corporate houses could perhaps do wonders and turn three into thirty next time. It’s high time we adopted a more serious and focused approach to Olympics, world’s most revered sporting extravaganza.
Published at NDTV.com -- http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/default.aspx
As the celebrations die down, an inevitable question arises - who should be given the credit for India’s improved showing at the Games - the precious three medals?
Shooter Abhinav Bindra, boxer Vijender Kumar and wrestler Sushil Kumar have won individual medals owing to their own hard work and determination, and the able guidance provided by their coaches.
Despite the inadequacies of the system and the poor infrastructure in the country, our men have proved their worth. What role did the sports authorities play in their success? Not really much.
Except Bindra, who had the solid support of his affluent background, others were not lucky enough. Vijender’s father is a driver with Haryana Roadways and Sushil Kumar’s father is a driver with the MTNL.
Ordinarily, such families would first think of getting employment in order to earn a livelihood than dream of an Olympic medal. Yet, they chose to follow their sons’ dreams and motivated them to reach the Olympic podium.
This amounts to showing immense courage and putting in tremendous efforts. And in the end, they won against all odds. Not just a podium finish for the boxers, but a moral victory for all Indian sportspersons.
The Bhiwani Boxing Club (BBC) which trained Vijender, Jitender and Akhil, stands at a place which was virtually out of the way till a couple of days back, lacking proper roads or anything that could be comparable to international standards. The same holds true about most other sports training facilities across the country. Yet our boxers have overcome all difficulties and done the country proud.
So, if individual efforts could fetch us three medals, some more assistance from the authorities and the corporate houses could perhaps do wonders and turn three into thirty next time. It’s high time we adopted a more serious and focused approach to Olympics, world’s most revered sporting extravaganza.
Published at NDTV.com -- http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/default.aspx
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