Comments on: Country of a billion plus people and a single medal, why?

By: riaz

riaz — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 13:38:05 +0000

Sorry that a mere Pakistani should be commenting on this, but while we are nowhere as big as India, we have a big population and we, too, wonder at the low output. Training,talent, dedication, motivation, recognition, monetary rewards (a sportsman has a short productive life)–we fall down in most of these areas

By: Muk

Muk — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:03:25 +0000

It is true that we cannot afford the training and I agree with the author almost whole heartedly. I like to see it along a different direction too. People are economically lower in status than many of those who won lot more medals at the olympics (with probably an exception of china though). In such a state people cannot afford to take up sports which is simply a high risk option with a low probability of success. People need to live well first and then concentrate on comforts like winning medals in sports. Winning olympic medals is only one of the many things that we lack in. To have that as our goal will serve no other purpose except itself. What we need to aim for is a uniform growth and thus people will earn a sustainable life. Winning olympics medal will be a byproduct of it. The situation will change such that winning a medal in olympic will not be heroic or iconic, but probably only a few like phelps will become an icon. In such a case people will see less risk in entering sports and high returns on a further sustained effort. Only then Indians will be seen in the picture. In the meantime, we wait.

By: vinayak

vinayak — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 05:49:08 +0000

People like Ketan is why India is not progressing.
You talk of any event they say ” Stop measuring success/failure of a country by the number of medals on a particular tournament.” in the process they will stop participation in any of the events et al.

By: Sandeep

Sandeep — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:49:53 +0000

these governments have crores of rupees to give to medal winners but “inadequate funds” when it comes to sponsoring athetes in the initial stages. these medalists have enough fame to get into tons of advertisements and also sponsors for their future events.

@ketan: how do you say we should measure our success or failure if not by comparing with other countries?

By: Arun

Arun — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:49:00 +0000

Very well written post Yash !
Its kind of chicken and egg situation, because India does not have any other sports even close to cricket, they follow it…However, my point originates first at the Indian sports system and administrators, and second being cricket.

By: ketan

ketan — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:32:33 +0000

if cricket is popular let it be. who r u or me to divert public choice from game A to game B. People like cricket thats it. They are not obliged by what olympic committee or the rest of the world thinks and/or likes. I do not understand why everyone blames cricket for the problems of other sports? if other sport has some stuff to be more popular it will eventually be and if not then let it be like this.

Stop measuring success/failure of a country by the number of medals on a particular tournament.