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The BBC published an article on this last week: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-36941269 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-36941269

by EwanToo 10y ago

sremani 10y ago
Excuses, Excuses. When DPRK, Bahamas, Bahrain, UAE, Brunei can win medals. There is no sound logic for any reason the apologists present for India not winning medals. Incompetence across the board (with an exception of some real hard working athletes). Phelps has more medals than India in its entire Olympics participation. Shame. Shame. Shame. edit: if downvoting me to hell is going to give a bronze medal to India, then please down-vote me to oblivion.
- azernik 10y ago
  You're being downvoted because you're rejecting a coherent explanation in favor of insults and vague mentions of "incompetence". If you're claiming Indian athletes are incompetent - WHY? Lack of training, the good talent decides on other career paths, etc.
  - sremani 10y ago
    #1. I am old enough and tired enough to not worry about Karma points. People are free to down-vote, I am just trying to get a point across. #2. The article is not deep, it rings like shallow talking point of India not getting medal apologists. #3. Incompetence from head to toe. There are multiple factors, but to simplify and make it sound like a single problem issue, the biggest impediment to Indian sports are Indian Olympic Committee and Ministry of Sports, are primarily plump political posts. #4. No number of explanations can convince me there is a method behind the madness of 1.2 billion people that too a majority under the age of 30, cannot win one bronze medal. To win one bronze medal, you really do not need Nike or University of Oregon track and field program. Smaller nations that are far more corrupt than India were pulling medals and India did not. This is not a one off, India has remained at the bottom of medal tally for long time, Bejing and London gave some hope because of multiple medals, and now reverting to big ZERO is disheartening and maddening at the same time.
- fellellor 10y ago
  While I agree that the article makes some very cliche points that are not supported by data, the same can be said about your comment, which has already been pointed out by others. For example, the article mentions caste, buts fails to notice that most of the athletes are not affluent people from upper castes. The kids going into cricket are from relatively well off families who are able to afford kits. However, The archery team's top people are mostly from tribal backgrounds. Also most of the people in the wrestling and boxing teams are from lower-middle/working class OBC backgrounds. I'm assuming the same can be said for a lot of sports like track and field, weightlifting etc. (the exceptions being sports like tennis, badminton etc.) Sport does present a good opportunity for many people from poorer backgrounds, who are able get jobs in public sector companies, for their sporting achievements. So these athletes have plenty of motivation to do well, and follow their prescribed training in a disciplined manner. What needs to be examined is how effective the sports administration is in various levels in identifying and supporting the athletes. Going by the results, they are not effective at all. So logically they have to take most of the blame. Edit: Also the article mentions good things about India's achievements in cricket. There again we have a very mediocre team which has a very difficult time playing in unfamiliar conditions outside India. However, I have heard good things of late, so that may be changing. So there may be some truth to the statement that our country produces some very mediocre-middling sportsmen irrespective of the facilities given to them.

The BBC published an article on this last week: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-36941269 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-36941269

by EwanToo 10y ago

The BBC published an article on this last week: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-36941269 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-36941269

sremani 10y ago

Excuses, Excuses. When DPRK, Bahamas, Bahrain, UAE, Brunei can win medals. There is no sound logic for any reason the apologists present for India not winning medals. Incompetence across the board (with an exception of some real hard working athletes). Phelps has more medals than India in its entire Olympics participation. Shame. Shame. Shame. edit: if downvoting me to hell is going to give a bronze medal to India, then please down-vote me to oblivion.

azernik 10y ago
You're being downvoted because you're rejecting a coherent explanation in favor of insults and vague mentions of "incompetence". If you're claiming Indian athletes are incompetent - WHY? Lack of training, the good talent decides on other career paths, etc.
- sremani 10y ago
  #1. I am old enough and tired enough to not worry about Karma points. People are free to down-vote, I am just trying to get a point across. #2. The article is not deep, it rings like shallow talking point of India not getting medal apologists. #3. Incompetence from head to toe. There are multiple factors, but to simplify and make it sound like a single problem issue, the biggest impediment to Indian sports are Indian Olympic Committee and Ministry of Sports, are primarily plump political posts. #4. No number of explanations can convince me there is a method behind the madness of 1.2 billion people that too a majority under the age of 30, cannot win one bronze medal. To win one bronze medal, you really do not need Nike or University of Oregon track and field program. Smaller nations that are far more corrupt than India were pulling medals and India did not. This is not a one off, India has remained at the bottom of medal tally for long time, Bejing and London gave some hope because of multiple medals, and now reverting to big ZERO is disheartening and maddening at the same time.
fellellor 10y ago
While I agree that the article makes some very cliche points that are not supported by data, the same can be said about your comment, which has already been pointed out by others. For example, the article mentions caste, buts fails to notice that most of the athletes are not affluent people from upper castes. The kids going into cricket are from relatively well off families who are able to afford kits. However, The archery team's top people are mostly from tribal backgrounds. Also most of the people in the wrestling and boxing teams are from lower-middle/working class OBC backgrounds. I'm assuming the same can be said for a lot of sports like track and field, weightlifting etc. (the exceptions being sports like tennis, badminton etc.) Sport does present a good opportunity for many people from poorer backgrounds, who are able get jobs in public sector companies, for their sporting achievements. So these athletes have plenty of motivation to do well, and follow their prescribed training in a disciplined manner. What needs to be examined is how effective the sports administration is in various levels in identifying and supporting the athletes. Going by the results, they are not effective at all. So logically they have to take most of the blame. Edit: Also the article mentions good things about India's achievements in cricket. There again we have a very mediocre team which has a very difficult time playing in unfamiliar conditions outside India. However, I have heard good things of late, so that may be changing. So there may be some truth to the statement that our country produces some very mediocre-middling sportsmen irrespective of the facilities given to them.