Why India Sucks At The Olympics

Ever since I watched my first Olympics in 2008, I've always been disappointed with India's performance at the Olympics. In Rio 2016, India won just two medals (1 silver and 1 bronze) and for the past 9 Olympics put together, they've only won 1 gold medal. With 1.4 Billion people, this record is far from amusing. I understand that until the 1948 Games in London, India was fighting for freedom and the Olympics were completely irrelevant. For the next 40 years after Independence, I will accept that India was in a state of rebuilding and once again, the Olympics were far from everyone's minds. But since then, since Seoul 1988, how is it possible that they have just gathered 14 medals (only 1 gold)?

Before I put forth my solution, that I believe can cure India's miserable record, let us see what some other countries, similar to India in many aspects, have done to boost their results.

If you argue that India's population is a setback rather than an asset (as far as success in the Olympics is concerned) then take a look at China. Despite having a greater population than India, China ranked top 3 (including #1 in 2008) in the total medals tally for the past 5 Olympic Games. To understand the level of this achievement, we must delve a little deeper. China didn't even participate in the Olympics from 1956 - 1980. Yet, when they did finally participate in 1984, they came prepared and burst onto the scene with 32 medals (15 Golds) and 4th place in the medals tally. Since then they have never looked back and now, 35 years later, they are one of the fiercest competitors on the World stage. If China can do it, then why can't India?

The next argument that will be imposed is that nearly 70% of India lives in poverty. I completely understand that people struggling to eat food every day cannot be training for the Olympics. Yes, there is a lack of facilities and there is a lack of funding because the Government has to combat poverty and other bigger issues. However, there are countries in worse situations that are making the most of their resources and finding success. Take a look at Kenya, a country with 80% in poverty. The Kenyans won 13 medals (6 Golds and 6 Silvers) in the previous Olympics. And this is not just a one-time thing because they won 13 and 16 medals respectively in the two Olympics prior to that. The reason for their success is that they played it smart and played it to their strengths. Almost all of Kenya's medals have come from running and that too long-distance running. Running is a sport that requires almost zero equipment or facility. Some people will say that a person cannot increase their speed beyond a certain limit, so winning the 100 or 200 or 400-metre dash is beyond our control. Fine, but what about long-distance running? There is no excuse for this. If Kenya can do it, then why can't India?

Finally, the ultimate reason why India can't make their mark in the Olympics, and other sports in general, is because the emphasis lies solely on academics. The poor want to study, the rich want to study; everyone wants to study. And if they don't want to, then they are forced to. To some degree, this is understandable because, with 70% of the population in the clutches of poverty, everyone wants to study and weave their way into a comfortable lifestyle. However, what people don't realize is that successful athletes are often guaranteed with government jobs after their careers flame out. You can most definitely weave your way into a comfortable lifestyle through sports.

I believe the best solution to this problem is if young Indian athletes could win scholarships into prestigious universities/colleges through their sporting achievements. This will have huge benefits as successful athletes from poor backgrounds will gain access to high-quality education, that they otherwise would not have been able to afford. This way, the athlete will be able to study, while also training in good facilities and environments, thus fulfilling the wishes of both the athlete as well as his/her parents. Another thing I've noticed over the past 2-3 years (since 10th grade) is that fellow football team-mates and friends of mine have given up their dreams of playing professionally in-order to turn their focus to academics. This highlights society's notion that academics are a priority. While aspiring athletes are training harder than ever from ages 13 or 14 to become professionals (or at least gain an athletic scholarship to college) in other countries, Indians athletes are already starting to give up their dreams. A college Sports system in India can prevent this early decline of athletes and instead encourage them to get into College through the athletic route. Even if an athlete fails to become a Pro, he/she can always fall back on their college degrees. You just can't go wrong with this system.

Before I end this article, I want to ask a question. If you train for a sport or art or music or anything else of interest to you, for the same amount of time as you spend studying - from Grade 1 to Grade 12 - do you think you can make it professional in your respective field?

Give me your thoughts in the comments below.