india in china - olympics

singsub

how many do you think india will win

Becki

I read this the other day...it appears even the IOA are pessimists. Where are the sports people in such a populous country? If only cricket was in the Olympics....

BEIJING 2008
No big hopes from nation of billion
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 6
Call them pessimists, but placing their views on the past performance of the country at the Olympics, city residents expect no medals this time, too.

Though the Indian contingent has left for China to participate in the Olympics commencing on August 8, the residents do not want to raise their hopes too high.

“Let’s talk facts. I know we will return empty-handed from China,” says a Sector 9 resident, Raja K.S. Sidhu, joint secretary of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Sidhu is also going to Beijing in the capacity of IOA’s official to gain experience for the Commonwealth Games-2010.

Talking to The Tribune, Sidhu said: “If one goes by the statistics, one can easily judge that there is not even a bleak chance of winning a medal at Beijing. People are pinning hopes on the shooters, but just check their latest records.”

In ‘measured’ games, the capacity of a sportsperson could be easily gauged, added Sidhu, who is also general secretary of the Punjab Shooting Association. He maintained that he was not pessimistic, but did not want to forget the ground reality.

Echoing his sentiments, Mukesh Bassi, president of the Chandigarh Club, was of the view that India’s representation in the Olympics was a mere formality.

“Everybody knows what is going to happen there. In the last Olympics, Army shooter Rajyawardhan Singh Rathod saved the country from blushes. But who will do so this time? We are a nation of a billion people, but we can’t think of a single sportsperson who could bring an Olympic medal,” Bassi said.

City-based hockey coach N.S. Sodhi said the failure of the Indian hockey team in Olympics qualifier was the biggest shock for the sports fraternity.

“Though there is no hope, miracles do happen,” Sodhi said.

Neha, a student of Class IX of DAV Model School, Sector 15, and St John’s High School student Suveer Sachdeva, feel cricket and the government is responsible for this awful situation.

“I want our sportspersons to win laurels for the country in the biggest sports extravaganza, but I think everybody knows the result. Except cricket, nobody takes other sports seriously. I have no hope of any podium finish by Indian sportspersons,” Neha said.

Suveer thinks that India should base its sporting scenario on the pattern of China, which is a hot contender for the number one spot in the medal tally.

singsub

i urge members to get hold of a recent time magazine (the one which featured games from all over the world) and read their article about china's preparation. china are very likely to top the charts.

bump!!

batistuta

Lee and Hesh are our best best, Imho.

Going OT

Athletes/Teams to look out for, Imo.

1) Michael Phelps in swimming.

2) Usain Bolt in Athletics.

3) Elena Isanbayeva in Pole-vaulting

4) US Basketball team competing against Argentina. This US team is the real deal.

5) Brazil vs Argentina in Soccer, if they both go through in their respective groups.

6) Roger Federer against Rafael Nadal in Tennis.

singsub

and keep an eye on china, esp on desiplines that have a lot of medals for grabs (gymnastics, shooting, swimming). they are hell bent to top the list.

mridula

Today Mangal Singh Champia is placed second in ranking events (not medal and don't ask me the difference) in Archery.

And Bajranglal Takhar reaches to quarter finals in rowing events.

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theshutterbug

I am glad they are out right frank.

Its a fact that govt does not have sports development in its agenda. Nor india has that culture as other countries like Australia has. If you look at the track record, hardly anyone would have even landed in olympics to compete.

Cricket can't be blamed. Its amazing entertainment. Other sports, I mean who in the world wait for swimming or athletics competition to watch on TV and get entertained ?

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lovish

I can just hope for over 3 golds........

Its really a true that Cricket has spoiled all other sports and my fav Soccer too.......

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federica

Watching the show yesterday I was totally surprised that the country with the second biggest population in this world sends just a couple of athletes to the Olympic games. Pity.

singsub

er.. we would send a truckload... if they would qualify.

mridula

And I am so mad that there is nothing in the media about the second position of Mangal Singh Champia in the initial archery round. I mean if they know Dola Banerjee was 31 in woman's category how can they not know about the second position

singsub

2nd position......meaning a silver?? or second in the heats/qulaifiers ?? btw, dola B. is a known name already. that may be the explaination.

mridula

Singsub, it is not a sliver, see above, this is an initial round. But I mean why not, if there can be ten news story about Dola in the initial round coming 31 then why not Champia coming second. Here is an explanation Mohit left on my blog.

And Saina Nehwal thrashed her Russian opponent in round one in Badminton.

dzibead

Shows that India has it's priorities straight, IMHO.

mridula

No Dzibead, I think this reflects complete lack of priorities.