This is a Forward as Received with my comments right at the end.
RamKrish aka Rambo
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As the curtain comes down on Tokyo and onward to Paris, Indians are justly proud of their 7 medal winners and are celebrating their victories and the honour they have given our country.
India's Lone Ranger Neeraj Chopra
We surpassed our last tally and added a never before GOLD in Track and Field.
All our 120 odd athletes who participated are worthy of our praise.
Reality check.
1.35 billion Indians manage 7 medals. Emma McKeon Australian swimmer takes 7 individual medals. 4 gold and 3 bronze.
Our hated and envied neighbour China took 88 medals. Similar population and in similar economic and social situation 25/30 years ago.
USA at the top has 113.
Comparable nations, Brazil 21, Kenya 10, and 47 countries ahead of us in the medals roll of honour.
For the Hindutva junky, we got more medals than Pakistan. Hurrah.
Indian people are capable, have skills, the right work ethic and a burning ambition to excel in their sphere of interest.
So, what is stopping us?
The answer is obvious, our governments and politicians.
Look at the budgetary allocation for sports. Facilities, trained coaches. equipment, sports scholarships are just a few areas where governments can and should contribute. Do we get enough?
Blaming the past governments is futile as the present one has been in power for 7 years and state governments with a few exceptions like Kerala have no interest in sports.
It is ridiculous to see politicians hogging all the credit and projecting their own pictures and sponsored videos of their followers attributing the success to the supreme leader because he watched the event or spoke to them after the athlete’s success.
The supreme leaders’ priorities are misplaced. Central Vista project, pie in the sky projects like Bullet trains (China started their Bullet train project through Tibet around the same time as India announced their plan. The Chinese project is completed and their bullet train now traverses Tibet and is at our doorstep in Arunachal Pradesh).
- Allocate more funds for sporting facilities in schools.
- Give sports scholarship in schools.
- Build indoor and outdoor training facilities for all age groups.
- Create institutes of excellence for training and creating professional coaches.
- Create a pool of talent scouts.
- Improve health facilities and provide targeted nutritious meals at the training/coaching centers and provide funds to families with identified future champions so that they can be fed the right food and get the right equipment and clothing.
- Divest sports from politicians and entrust the management of sports to professionals.
This is where the Forward ends:
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My Comments as Follows:
My thoughts fleet back to Sydney Olympics 2000
Year 1999 was a most memorable one for me as I had won contracts for supplying noise Control Equipment to the Sydney Olympic Stadium as well as the Olympc Auditorium in the Olympic Village then called Acer Arena now Called Q
Sydney Olympic Stadium
(My silencers sit inside the four spiral ramps to the stadium)
Auditorium in Olympic Village was
Acer Arena in 2000
now Qudos Bank in 2021
Was once in a life time moment and I was not going to miss out.
I spent a fortune and bought 25 tickets for my staff and family and friends for the Opening ceremony. Made sure I got tickets to watch the Indian Hockey Team shine
The Opening ceremony was outstanding event. Never witnessed any thing like this in my life before. Thanked my stars I was living in Sydney and not Melbourne.
It is difficult to express in words the once in a life time experience when the athletes marched into the stadium, in their colourful outfits proudly carrying their national flag.
in short what I witnessed was :
YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE
At the Corner of my eye I spotted the Indian Team entering the arena and I told every one and we were all excited until they got close.
What did we see ?
A reasonably sized Contingent, but more than 60% were Pot bellied old and middle aged me Leading the Contingent. All Govt Babus who had come for a free ride. All Free Loaders
Indias Olympic Tally in 2000 Olympics was a whooping Total of One Bronze medal.
India was rated the best Hockey Team and I was not going to miss one Game
Was up early for India's first Hockey Match against South Korea. My South Korean neighbour told me "Ram Korea has no chance against India in Hockey" and I said I agree. To me it was "fete accompli"
How wrong I was. India Played a Pathetic Game ( I will tell you why) and Lost the opening Game to south Korea.
Score South Korea-1 & India-0
I am sure the entire nation was more furious than disappointed, How is it possible for India to lose to of all Countries South Korea. Just did not make any sense to any one.
But residing in Sydney I know what exactly happened. Rich Indians Living in Sydney love to host mega parties for the Indian Cricket team in their homes to show off
The Hockey Team was invited to one such party the night before the game and the Babus and players were all eating and drinking at some morons house until 1.00am despite the game starting next morning at 8.00am
Half the players were suffering from Hangover and they did not have legs to run forget scoring a goal. It was a total disgrace.
Who is to be Blamed the Govt self appointed Babus who came for a free holiday in Australia.
I am not surprised that India did much better in Tokyo 2021 Olympics as doubt if any of the Govt Babus wanted to go to Japan and Risk Delta Infections so they sent more real athletes.
Senior Citizens like me will remember how the Indian Cricket was limited to the Rajahs and Nawabs of India as it was a game for the Rich.
As a mad Cricket Fan, I was one one occasion the Nominated Driver to take some of the team members safely to their hotel in 1978, as there was a death threat from Ananda Marg who had detonated a Bomb at the Hilton Hotel when PM Morarji Desai visited Sydney.
The Real Change to cricket came about when Ganguli was captain and Dravid-Ganguli and Laxman showed the Aussies in Eden Garden how to play a test Match.
Then Indian was blessed with Dhoni the Best era in Indian Cricket.
Today Indians may be winning and have fantastic talent pool to choose from the IPL
My fav match was when Rahane Captained India and beat the aussies in a most Professional manner.
I do not see Kholi as a Popular Indian Captain but as some one who "wants to win at all cost".
This is my Considered Opinion.
You don't have to agree or disagree
