Reflections

Normally I hate eating my words. But this time I will do it with great pleasure. I am glad that the three musketeers of Beijing have proved me wrong in all counts. In my opinion it shows that changes are taking place at a rapid pace in small cities across the country. Bhindra’s case is different; he had the backing of his millionaire father. However the point is that infrastructure should be available for sportsmen so that they do not have to depend on individual largesse. It is now clear that even if the state fails, young men and women will make their way. If only the state helped, their life would have been so much easier. Perhaps it is the necessity for small town men to prove themselves that have made them more determined and capable of doing well. The table tennis players of Siliguri come to mind in this context. It amazes me that while the security apparatus for politicians are the best in the world, there is no third world excuse then, the excuse of lack of money is trotted out...

Its that time!The newspapers are full of the new champions who are very likely to win medals in the Olympics. In spite of the fact that no athlete has timings anywhere near the Olympic or world bests, the officials, parts of the media and of course crazy sport administrators keep insisting that so and so is bound to get a medal this year.I remember Anju Baby George. She came fourth in one World Athletics Meet, never came close to her timings after that, and everybody kept saying that she would win a medal. Not surprisingly she did not. The only medals that have come our way, one apiece in each recent Olympics, have been sort of flukes, nobody expected it and it just happened. In this Olympics if we do get our one medal it will be like that, some sportsman who was not thought of at all might win a bronze and become the next great Hope of Indian sport. It is ridiculous how puny achievements are played up as if they were world shaking achievements. Sania Mirza. She won a couple of matches...