After a comparatively sedate start to the Asian Games @ Guangzhou, 2010 the Indian contingent has finished with the flourish. In the first few days of the games, it seemed to the ‘discerning’ that the Indian sportsperson are back to their true form. The CWG performance just a flash in the pan.
The nation, particularly compulsively sports lovers [yours truly included] swell with pride with such news of sporting success. Looks like we have started hitting the trajectory and that means we have starting believing in ourselves as a nation. All the big talk about India in international for a is real, not a case of statistics lying. And India going great guns is not just the haves of the digital divide or the top corner of the pyramid. Going by the laurels from unknown mofussil towns and stellar performances dotted from all corners of the country, this is really good news.
This is corroborated by the general confidence and high EQ demonstrated by the 1980+ plus DOBs. The under thirty Indian are brimming with confidence and share ambitions and often career paths with their counterparts in other continents in all professions, including many non-nerdy ones. [Ref: the post Play India Play…..posted @ unmuddlings May 5/6, 2010. As a digression, I am really delighted that Saina Nehwal has jumped rungs since that post. I remember the murmurs of protest in putting Saina in top league – the complains being that she hadn’t achieved enough].
But then – the inevitable change in tone – we know this is not enough. We know that there is a trajectory which looks promising. But looking at the over-arching mediocrity and lack of pride in large sections of society – huge majority being below the BPL of optimism and positive thinking – sometimes one wonders that the gains will get plateau at a different Indian Hindu Growth Rate [reading Corruption Growth Rate]. Will we flatter to deceive.
One major problem area is our sports administration. Our improved performance in recent years is despite a fairly apathetic and inefficient sports administration. Look at our Hockey Stars, who notch up memorable wins regularly but falter at key points [note we beat the current champions and defending champions but came third is this Asiad]. I am one of those who really believe that we can give a good coach and a world class support staff [incl a world class Pyschologist] to our hockey team [comparable to that enjoyed by our cricket team] we can consistently be in the top six of top tournaments and end up with podium finishes fairly regularly. Maybe IHF top brass can be disbanded and the federation can be made an additional responsibility of BCCI.
Well sports administration is a convenient punching bag. But that is enough. The key to change is good solid straight faced governance. Clean & smiling and evoking cleanliness and smiles. And it the gold medal haul will come. What one wants to see is whether the society changes the government or the government changes the society and when. The first method can happen only through a revolution. The second one by a few self assured, well meaning, empathetic, enlightened leaders who love the national anthem [more so in the Olympics] more than the Swiss banks. Let see if the regional leaders [there are already a few shining examples] can walk the promise and deliver; or wait for a people to lead the redemption.
Bhubaneshwar
November 27, 2010
The nation, particularly compulsively sports lovers [yours truly included] swell with pride with such news of sporting success. Looks like we have started hitting the trajectory and that means we have starting believing in ourselves as a nation. All the big talk about India in international for a is real, not a case of statistics lying. And India going great guns is not just the haves of the digital divide or the top corner of the pyramid. Going by the laurels from unknown mofussil towns and stellar performances dotted from all corners of the country, this is really good news.
This is corroborated by the general confidence and high EQ demonstrated by the 1980+ plus DOBs. The under thirty Indian are brimming with confidence and share ambitions and often career paths with their counterparts in other continents in all professions, including many non-nerdy ones. [Ref: the post Play India Play…..posted @ unmuddlings May 5/6, 2010. As a digression, I am really delighted that Saina Nehwal has jumped rungs since that post. I remember the murmurs of protest in putting Saina in top league – the complains being that she hadn’t achieved enough].
But then – the inevitable change in tone – we know this is not enough. We know that there is a trajectory which looks promising. But looking at the over-arching mediocrity and lack of pride in large sections of society – huge majority being below the BPL of optimism and positive thinking – sometimes one wonders that the gains will get plateau at a different Indian Hindu Growth Rate [reading Corruption Growth Rate]. Will we flatter to deceive.
One major problem area is our sports administration. Our improved performance in recent years is despite a fairly apathetic and inefficient sports administration. Look at our Hockey Stars, who notch up memorable wins regularly but falter at key points [note we beat the current champions and defending champions but came third is this Asiad]. I am one of those who really believe that we can give a good coach and a world class support staff [incl a world class Pyschologist] to our hockey team [comparable to that enjoyed by our cricket team] we can consistently be in the top six of top tournaments and end up with podium finishes fairly regularly. Maybe IHF top brass can be disbanded and the federation can be made an additional responsibility of BCCI.
Well sports administration is a convenient punching bag. But that is enough. The key to change is good solid straight faced governance. Clean & smiling and evoking cleanliness and smiles. And it the gold medal haul will come. What one wants to see is whether the society changes the government or the government changes the society and when. The first method can happen only through a revolution. The second one by a few self assured, well meaning, empathetic, enlightened leaders who love the national anthem [more so in the Olympics] more than the Swiss banks. Let see if the regional leaders [there are already a few shining examples] can walk the promise and deliver; or wait for a people to lead the redemption.
Bhubaneshwar
November 27, 2010
I would say Sports Administration is a convenient and rightful punching bag. they have the resources, mandate - but no will power or knowledge to do good.
ReplyDeleteJust imagine how many gems like Aswini Chidananda will wilt away due to lack of recognition!
Nice insightful piece. Unmudling all along the way!