Bittersweet Olympics

IT has been a rollercoaster Olympics for India in Paris. Medals have been few and far between, rather like the deficient rainfall in the northern plains this monsoon. An eight-day-long drought — which seemed like an eternity — ended when India won the bronze in men’s hockey. A podium for the second time in a row: this had earlier happened over five decades ago, when the majority of the Indians alive today were not even born. With PR Sreejesh — who will join double bronze-winning shooter Manu Bhaker as India’s flag-bearer at the closing ceremony — solid as a rock between the goalposts, the team proved that its impressive show in Tokyo three years ago was no fluke. Even though Sreejesh has called time on a glittering career, the plucky boys are here to stay. Hopefully, they will keep raising the bar.

Having scaled ‘Mount Everest’ in Tokyo, javelin juggernaut Neeraj Chopra could have easily rested on his laurels and lapped up all the adulation and moolah that were showered on him. But he is made of sterner stuff. Not letting success go to his head, the champion battled an injury to finish second this time. Had he not run into a Pakistani hurricane named Arshad Nadeem, he might even have clinched the gold again. The big thing is that this amazing athlete has become an icon in a cricket-crazy nation which worships its Tendulkars, Dhonis and Kohlis.

Let’s face it: India is far behind the Asian sporting troika — China, Japan and South Korea — which is giving Western nations a run for their money. The whole nation was gutted when Vinesh Phogat was disqualified, not only because of the unfortunate circumstances but also due to the fact that we have so few players capable of winning Olympic gold medals. Make the most of the demographic dividend — it’s as simple as that. We need dozens of Neerajs to become a powerhouse in sports.