Winning a gold medal in Olympics is the ultimate dream for any sportspersons—track, field and other disciplines. Particularly, Indian Olympians carry along with them a huge baggage of expectations as they train in areas that involves punch, run, row, throw, swim, wrestle, play, jump, shoot, surf, skate and lift. Olympiad caught the attention of all the Indians who consider Olympics as supreme and prime.
In Olympics, metals of the medals are hierarchically organized. 2020 Olympics at Tokyo amidst a number of speculations was held. Japan managed to complete all the disciplines on the 8th of August, 2021. India had sent a sizable contingent with huge expectations. However, it is disappointing to see the chart as it shows a dismal picture when compared to other countries – not just the rich and developed ones, but the poorer and undeveloped countries.
India’s medal tally when compared to the rest of the world from 1896-2020 shows 35 medals India, Ethiopia 58, Iran 74, Kenya 113, Brazil 150, China 634, France 749, Germany 770, Great Britain 916 and United States 2,635. Comparative analysis of the rich (developed) and poor (underdeveloped) countries forces those who govern the country and sports authorities in power to look into the areas where and why India failed in winning more Olympic medals.
Though India’s sports budget which shows a phenomenal rise from Rs. 1200 crores (2013) to Rs. 2600 crores (2021), comparing with the surging population, the projected rise is meagre and paltry. We should not come to conclusion that the GOI is generous to pump several crores of rupees, but hundreds of crores rise when compared GDP, India’s sports budget is just 0.01 per cent of India’s GDP. Countries such as China allocates Rs. 4400 crores ($651 million) and Australia Rs. 1800 crores ($272 million) for sports.
Tokyo Olympics unfolds many aspects. For instance, the United States of America at an average level if we put it an Olympic medal costs Rs. 60 lakh – Rs 23 crores (89,000 – 3.4 million dollars) whereas Great Britain spends for an Olympic medal approximately Rs. 38 crores (4.5 million GBP). How do they do it? What is the modus operandi? What is the process with which they select the prospective winners? It is not sheer pumping of money, but the ways with which it is carried out and how the selections are made should be looked at carefully.
Two Indian Olympians who competed in the Tokyo Olympics can be taken as referral points. Neeraj Chopra is the first javelin thrower to win gold at Olympics. India had never won a track and field gold medal at the Olympics which Neeraj Chopra broke, giving India its 7th medal – the only gold medal. To achieve this feat, the GOI had spent on Neeraj’s training preparations is whopping. According to the Sports Authority of India, the Government had spent Rs. 4,85,39,638 on Neeraj for his training and to compete in the international meets.
For his international exposures that lasted 450 days culminated in the participation of Tokyo Olympics. Dr. Klaus Batronietz who has been Neeraj’s personal coach following his elbow surgery in March 2019 for which the Government paid him Rs. 1,22,24,990 as salary to date. For his four javelins procured for Neeraj costs Rs. 4,35,000. In the year 2021, Rs. 19,22,533 has been spent on Neeraj after setting up a serious intensive training camp in Sweden for about 50 days to compete in European tournaments before flying directly to Tokyo.
Aditi Ashok, a 23 -year-old golfer, who was in medal contention from the very first round in the women’s golf competition, missed the podium by a whisker and finished fourth in Tokyo Olympics. Aditi Ashok kept saying that “In a regular tournament whether you finish second or fourth it really doesn’t matter, no one care. But like at this event you need to be in the top 3. I didn’t leave anything out there, I think I gave it my hundred per cent, but yeah, fourth at an Olympics where they give out three medals kind of sucks.”
Unlike Neeraj Chopra, Aditi Ashok’s road-map has not been smooth. Her parents supported right from training, travel and purchase of equipment and many others required for the golf. Sponsors seldom approached her saying that she was an amateur and not a professional though knowing well that everyone starts as amateur and then become professional. She competed in Rio and was given some tacit assurance. As years passed-by no support was forthcoming.
Majority of the golf players competing stayed in hotels near the golf course. In view of the expenses Aditi stayed in the Olympic village provided for the athletes. On the 7th of August, 2021, was the decider – cliffhanger for the 3rd and 4th positions. Aditi was pitched to play against the World No 1 golfer slated early in the morning. From the Olympic Village to the Golf Course the distance is 75 kilometers and to reach the venue it takes about one and half hours. She set the alarm at 2.45 AM got ready and travelled all the way. She had to skip number things required prior to the competition and by a whisker she lost.
These two episodes of two Olympians from India conveys a clear message that Neeraj Chopra made it because he had the backing of the GOI and sponsors, whereas Aditi Ashok could not make it, because she had to spend from her pocket and could not afford professional and logistical support. However, a glimpse at the India’s medal tally with the rest of the world in Tokyo Olympics 2020 shows that USA with 113, China 88, Japan 58, Brazil 21, Kenya 10, Romania and Venezuela 4 each, India 7, Hong Kong 6 and Philippines 4.
India could have done better. Identification of talents should be done not at level where they come to state or national levels. Integrate sports within the curricula at the primary levels. Open up all disciplines to everyone irrespective of caste, class and creed. In India, for example, games such as tennis, golf, chess, cricket and badminton by and large belong to higher middle class and ‘dominant castes’, whereas hockey, kabaddi, boxing, volleyball and foot-ball to a large extent represented by the Dalits, Tribals and economically poorer sections.
It is interesting to note that only the privileged having their god-fathers and apt pollical connections can climb up and enjoy all the facilities, while those with talents are deprived of professional training and overseas exposures. Therefore, top-down approach currently employed by GOI, federations and association can benefit only a few. Physical fitness and mental fitness be part of mind-fitness in the overall curricula of our education.
Take countries such as Jamaica, Kenya, Uganda; take the sprints, middle- and long-distance track events majority who reach the finals and win happens to be Afro-American or from African countries or from the Caribbean. In the selection process many lose by a fraction of seconds. Unlike India, not just one or two, but many qualify. Tokyo Olympics – 2020 has given the citizens a clear picture that we are way behind in the 48th position below Romania and Venezuela and just above Hong Kong and the Philippines.
In the name of “one yellow metal” we cannot bury the deep-rooted malice Indian sport system is enmeshed with. Celebration has some limits, but not for securing seven medals. GOI and the state governments should increase the budgetary provision to many folds at least 5 percent of GDP. The allocation of funds for sports in the budget be in proportion to the population. Involvement of state governments, sports federations, associations and others be seen in the entire process with utmost transparency and objectivity, devoid of bias and prejudice.
Dr. John Mohan Razu
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