Come on India, let's bring a sporting culture!

India received its Tokyo 2020 Olympics heroes with much fanfare. Many felicitation functions were organized across the country and the medal winners were either given or promised perks in return for their performances in the quadrennial sports extravaganza. While some were given ‘returns’ in cash, others got it in kind. But the most important gift they received was the smile on the faces of every Indian apart from countless wishes.

For us, winning the medal mattered the most than its colour. There is an old saying ‘All that glitters is not gold.’ I may be allowed to change the same a bit by saying ‘All that glitters is gold’ (Hope Shakespeare will pardon me). Every Indian was praying and hoping for the best performance from the Indian contingent. They even threw a winning punch to boost the morale of the participating athletes.  

But, are we doing enough for that winning punch? Are we providing them with the best sporting infrastructure so that they excel in the discipline they choose? The answer probably might be in the negative. Is it not our duty to change the answer into affirmative? Some will say that I am being very emotional and not practical since ours is not a ‘sporting country’ as many call it. Here, survival of the being comes first while his/her sporting glory comes later.

In my view, the one who turns the tide in his or her favour is a real winner. It is imperative from the fact that most of the athletes that represented India at the Olympic Games come from a humble background and had no facilities to reach wherever they are today. Some even have to spend hours to reach their ‘training facility’ since they stay in the interiors.

And this situation has been the same for ages. Every time any question of sporting glory comes up, the player or the participant talks about the lack of proper training infrastructure. We have seen many ‘sporting icons’ donning the hat of sports ministers in the past. If not sportsmen themselves, they have been managing some of the other sporting bodies. Have they done their best to bring the advanced training techniques to the country? Did they provide ‘funds’ for a better sporting infrastructure? Have any administrators done their best for the betterment of the sportsmen in the country?

India seeks answers to these questions. Instead of providing the best facilities to train, we are cursing our sportsmen for not performing to their best. Stop bemoaning and work towards their upliftment so that they bring a rich haul of medals in Paris 2024 or Los Angeles 2028. This will be a real ‘tribute’ to the heroes whom we are celebrating today. This way we can change the general perception that ‘India lacks sporting culture.’

Show quoted text

Cricket bat or hockey stick, only shape differs!

Finally, it took 41 years for the Indian hockey team to ‘break the shackles’ of being ‘not up to the mark’ and performing ‘below their potential ' in the Olympics or any other international tournament. The team displayed a perfect blend of teamwork in defeating the powerhouse Germany to claim the Bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics, 2020. Will this victory help the game to regain its lost glory among the minds of Indian sports lovers? Today, a hockey player does not get the same amount of respect and attention as being given to those taking to the Gentleman’s Game.

How many people know about Ashok Kumar, Zafar Iqbal, Mervyn Fernandes, Pargat Singh, Dhanraj Pillai or Dilip Tirkey? (Pardon me for naming just a few since only these names came to my mind while penning down my thoughts). Barring the legendary Major Dhyanchand, how much do we know the legends who moved the hockey stick with exemplary dribbling skills to cut through the defence of their opponents and reach the target?

When our boys bagged the Gold medal at Moscow Olympics in 1980 under V Bhaskaran, they would have thought that their win will inspire many medals in the years to come. They didn’t have any idea that the country, where the game originated, will have to wait for 41 years for the Olympic glory. The current team that bagged the bronze, must have been going through the same feeling in a hope that their victory will prove to be a trendsetter for the years to come and that the country will bag another medal in Paris, 2024.

We, the people of this country, can also realize this dream by supporting and promoting our heroes in the best possible way. Just having confidence in them and believing in their abilities will be enough. It is the same as we have belief in our cricketers who go on foreign tours. We should look at our hockey players with pride and shelve the notion that they play just for government jobs. Remember, the colour of the medal doesn’t matter but winning does! They have the same passion to win laurels for their country as that of cricketers.

Our confidence and support in them will surely do wonders. We need more people like Naveen Patnaik who have been always looking after the backs of hockey players. The day is not far when India will regain its lost glory and be a hockey powerhouse again. Jai Hind!