Here's the billion rupee question to ask before you settle in front of your TV sets later today to watch the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics: will India defend its record of sending the largest Olympic contingent only to fetch the least number of medals? The answer - unless, of course, you're the sort who believes everything in this world to be maya - is a pretty resounding yes. But even if it's in hushed tones, India does have medal hopes in its star-studded shooting squad and some skillful archers and boxers.
China owes its sports superpower status to a decades-long policy aimed at gaining supremacy in world sport. While Indians half-heartedly try to clip seconds, the Chinese cut whole minutes.
To change the face of Indian sport, we must first change our mindset. Infusion of new ideas, and hiring top notch planners and coaches are crucial - as is, of course, respect for our sporting heroes long after they have hung up their spikes.
The upside: we have nothing to lose but Olympic shame. The Sports Authority of India is part of the great Indian rope trick!
The great indian hope trick
Defence Forces: From times immemorial, the soldier has always reveled in sporting activities. With the evolution of the modern army fame in the area of sports field brought prestige to the Armed Forces. In the last three decades, one has seen a steady decline in standards. The unit level sports and games has steadily taken a back seat. The reason is not difficult to fathom: The Generals and Commanders show least interest and have no time to encourage sports and games, as most of their energies are directed towards their own career profiling and enhancing their promotional avenues.
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