No other sporting extravaganza captures the minds of seasoned sports lovers as the Rio Olympic Games that are just around the bend. Having kept a track of a dozen past Olympics, a seasoned sports patriot like me, I am just raring to watch events after events unfolding from a humble TV set and to keep a count of India’s medal tally. I bet it’s going to be a great Olympics.
Going through our nation’s showings used to be an endurance test for many an Olympics with our contingent returning even without a single bronze medal, thereby inviting ridicule from columnists who used to cite tiny nations like Cuba and Jamaica, the latter bagging more than 12 medals, including 4 gold. Chak de India! The scenario changed dramatically at the last London Olympics when our heroes returned with 6 medals, two silver and four bronze. Boy, that‘s enough to beat the blues, even the Zika virus and start dreaming gold and silver.
In hockey, India has made a grand comeback to the Olympics with both men and women’s teams qualifying in style at Rio. Having won the silver medal at recent Champions Trophy at London and ranked fifth in the world in the game, the boys are going to steal the thunder at Rio, cheered on by our hockey lasses. Our hockey experts and columnists did not give India any chance of a medal at the Champion’s trophy. They always seem to be bitten by the pessimism bug that is worse than the Zika virus, but how many know that an undivided India had to their credit eight gold medals in the game at as many Olympics? Wonders of wonders over half the team comprised Bombay Goans.
I dare say Indian officials do not have their attitudes correct and deem India’s success at the Olympics only in terms of medal gained, (one IOC official has predicted 15). Much less it is about the participation aspect and the delegation’s showing at the March Past. Instead, they must ensure that there are maximum athletes fielded in high-profile events like swimming, gymnastics and athletes. Thankfully, this time we have world class representatives in gymnastics and athletics.
In gymnastics, Dipa Karmalkar is a sure bet for a medal in her pet event in high risk vault for which she qualified last month at Rio itself bagging in the process a gold and by defeating a highly fancied rival. This news made world headlines. Next, we have a girl Dutee Chand in the 100 metres sprint, a first Indian to qualify for any Olympics after 36 years.
Sometimes, Indians wrongly suffer from the worst per capita sports frustration in the world. Believe it or not, with 6 medals tally at London, India stood at 55th rank in the medals tally far ahead of nations like Portugal, Finland, Belgium, Greece, Saudi Arabia. This time India marching at Rio will boast of world champions cum celebrities like Saina Nehwal, Sania Mirza, Leander Paes, to win hearts along with our sports ambassadors like Shah Rukh Khan. That will be like red cherries in the pudding.
