Rosy future for the Indian Athlete

Abhinav Bindra, by claiming the medallion, has provided the much-needed breakthrough for all the Indians to emulate. This edition of Olympics, in Beijing, not only brought its first ever individual Gold to India but also has thrown other names, who can go the distance in the years to come, Saina Nehwal and the pugilists being the prominent ones. Saina and Akhil could have ended up on the podium if they could have squeezed through one more match i.e., their quarterfinal encounters. So close… yet so far for them, though their efforts are worth in gold!!!

The young and fast improving Saina Nehwal, aggressive pugilists Akhil, Joginder and Vijender, long distance runner Preeja Sreedharan, heptathlete Pramila Ganapathy, rower Bajranglal Thakar, shooters Narang, Rathore, Mansher and Manav Singh, wrestler Yogeshwar and Sushil Kumar, and tennis contender Sania Mirza; all have it in them to swell the country’s medal tally. Furthermore, having age on their side except a couple augurs well for the country, as they gain in experience to perform better when they participate next in the quadrennial event, Olympics, in 2012. There is talent in abundance in this vastly populated country. It is the executive planning schedule by the concerned officials that could make the all the more a worthy difference.

With Bindra showing the way, the Government and the Indian Olympic Committee should now start investing to organize an Olympic programme (with or without corporate support), as Bindra rightly hinted, to prepare the athletes to compete at the best level. It would be great if the IOC can identify some eight to ten athletes, to start with (a step in the right direction), and provide them with the required infrastructure, exposure and training. The following results should lead to further plans.

The IOC should exhibit a more important vision, of bringing more laurels to the country rather than basking in this one time glory, to organize such programmes. They should work towards addressing the needs of the athletes, things like ammunition shortage for the shooters, stints with renowned International athletes and trainers for a period of time, and such. At least they would have done their bit towards the improvement of the sport in the country, if they fulfill this requirement. Its time India diversifies from its cricket obsession and wake up to the realities of International sport.

Being an Indian alone would never contribute to the country’s growth; everybody should do his/her two bits worth so that four years down the line we can reap better results in the Olympic medal tally. Lets hope/work for the best.

Abhinav Bindra, a jewel in the crown

Achieving something a billion people had been hoping for a century is no mean thing. And it takes a lion heart and an ice head to withstand the pressures that mount when you represent the country and its hopes. That’s exactly what the apple of the whole country’s eye, Abhinav Bindra has weathered and achieved; an individual gold medal in the ongoing Beijing Olympics 2008, the highest sporting achievement ever by an Indian.

The Himalayan Mountains were there for centuries. Though various attempts were made to scale the peak, no human ever reached its summit till Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. From then on, we know that the frequency of visits to the summit is on the rise. It’s the first successful attempt that inspires and paves the way for others to tread on and emulate the feat time and again.

Similar is the Indian Olympics story. Though commendable and worthy of high praise, previous feats by Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Karnam Malleswari, Leander Paes and KP Jadhav, in the context of Olympics glory, they missed the golden medallion by a whisker or two. The thirst, the quest for an individual Gold in an Olympics was quenched with this year’s edition as Abhinav Bindra stood atop the summit to claim his coveted gold medallion. The moment of seeing the Indian Flag and the Anthem being hoisted and played ahead of any other country’s flag or anthem is worth experiencing time and again, for an Indian.

Future never looked rosier for the Indian athletes, as Bindra has cracked the enigma to open the floodgates. Hopefully, this will inspire generations to come by instilling the much needed self belief in the rest to bring home the glory with its tagged pride to such heights that we, as Indians, could proudly say that INDIA IS A SPORTING SUPER POWER AS WELL in the years to come.

If Hillary and Norgay are legends then Bindra is no less. They climbed to fame and he shot to fame. Long live the glory!!!