Olympics

Before I put down a single note about how I purview Olympics, 'Down with Shobha De' and alike. She is habituated to put her foot in her own mouth repeatedly, so no need to pay any heed to her utterances. There is saying in Marathi that 'In the 60s your wisdom takes a crooked turn.' So apt for her!

I don't know but the London Olympics were not watched that keenly in India. May be Rio the name itself carries more glamour than the old outdated mare, that is London!

So many events, that time table did not have enough space to watch every which one. But got to see many events where fellow Indians were trying hard, shoulder to shoulder with their counterparts from the other parts of the world.

I don't know why but the beginning for India was dismal. All the shooters raised our hopes or was it just the hoopla created by the press? Gagan Narang, Jitu Rai, Abhinav Bindra Chain Singh just came and vanished. except for Bindra, who secured 4th place. But Is he really Indian? For the most part of the year, he stays in Germany, I am told!

On the contrary, the women archery team showed much promise in the individual event. And I though a layperson felt that our own Bombayla Devi or Deepika Kumari were no less than any archer from anywhere in the world, but as you say, Right man at the right time at the right place. maybe it was not in our stars! Yes, they definitely showed the spark by having arrow hitting the ten many times!  The concentration was perfect, the skill was above normal, the dedication was up to the mark but...

My heart goes out to Deepa Karmakar. A lass coming from deep, mostly neglected interiors of India, getting training from the tender age of five, reaches the finals in gymnastics, a field or event so far practically unheard in India, in itself is a big, very big achievement. Here again down with 'Shobha De' and alike. She vaulted so gracefully that medal [or no medal] was immaterial.  And yes I feel, maybe biased, or seeing from an Indian point of view, in the world arena, Indians are looked down upon and so the doubt about judges being partial can not be set aside, just like that, it's really A point to ponder. Secondly, I feel our coaches,[ mostly non-Indians, but again  Indians even ] do not put our point of view forcibly or register a resent,  a fact that was observed with both the hockey teams when penalty strokes were being given to the opponents. So though India got penalty shoots for four times, for obstructing the game unabashedly Germans were never reprimanded.

Lalita Babar, Dattu Bhoknal tried really hard, but all the efforts did not bring any results. But the efforts really showed. Definitely, it was not, 'Khao, Peeo, Selfie Nikalo, and come back home' for them !. Here I would like to raise a point, maybe debatable but" Do we as a race, are fit enough for such types of events, where stamina along with personal strength and skill counts to the last 'T'." Because if you see our race from the subcontinent, not only Indians but Sri Lankans, Bangladeshis, Nepalis, even for that matter Pakistanis were conspicuous by their absence.

It has been conclusively proved scientifically beyond doubt that because Ethiopia is situated at the heights on the equator, her residents have peculiar haemoglobin that utilises oxygen more effectively so all the marathon winners, well mostly, are from Ethiopia! That haemoglobin helps them to do the feat.

If you take the events where agility is required along with finesse and dexterity, the 'Yellow' race always dominated, be it the table tennis, the badminton or the gymnastics!  Saina Nehwal or Sindhu may be making inroads lately but are at the most, exceptions.

Where plebeian raw energy is required in outbursts Blacks are ahead of all. You just can not think of any other colour winning the hundred meters sprint! 

Michael Phelps proved the point beyond doubt. His supernormal torso gives him so much of advantage over the fellow competitors that it is well nigh impossible to outdo him till he himself bows out due to age or lack of stamina.  

Do Indians fit in the pattern physically?
But the problem does not start or end at that. All pervasive 'Babu' nepotism overshadowing the merit, pure merit is another typical Indian problem and that's the big hurdle between India and the medals !.

P.S.

In my last blog, I had mentioned about the attitude of today's Indian youth. We lack motivation, zeal, zest, discipline, dedication, you name quality and we don't have it. To be a super-powerful nation in all respects we not only need these qualities but many more. When we were young, we were raised on PL480 wheat doled out in limited measures on ration. Sugar used to be in such a scarce supply that wedding receptions were unheard of. Our generation was practically wasted in making both the ends meet. Now the situation has changed. There is money, easy free-flowing money. So has come along, the arrogance, the power and the feeling that everything can be bought with money. Yes on Indian soils but not at international levels where it immediately becomes apparent that our feet are made of clay!

There is no short cut to merit, dedication, discipline and efforts!