How India's Path to Greater Olympic Glory Is Long But Exciting

          Indian athletes can learn much from Chinese, Japanese, and Korean success, both from  a performance and suitability point of view. We have competed with China in badminton and, in some cases, have stolen their thunder or at least tapered it. From a physical standpoint, the smaller, leaner, and, in most cases, similar height means India can compete in several sports where these physical traits are a plus.

A case in point is table tennis, where India has underperformed, but recent performances give us hope for a better future. Sports like diving, shooting, weightlifting, martial arts, and gymnastics, where these countries dominate, offer pathways for India to grow its medal count in the future.

With cricket joining the Olympics in 2028, one medal can be banked upon for some Olympics to come. Gymnastics is another sport that India can work on, with flexibility, strength, and discipline all packed in a compact frame, serving as a pedestal we should aspire to.

India has underperformed in shooting, but by providing calmness and big-match temperament, we can overcome the last hurdle we seem to fall short of. With an improving economy, better nutrition, surging sports attention, and sports as a source of livelihood and glory, the Indian sporting scene is only going to thrive from now on. It is only a matter of when.

These sports with the most medals in the Olympics should be our aim:

• Athletics (48 medals): Athletics is of prime importance, with many examples to inspire us. Given our varied demography, features, and natural abilities, India can continue to scale the medal count in athletics.
• Swimming (37 medals): The atrocious or non-existent record in swimming must be addressed. With India having one of the biggest coastlines, along with immeasurable rivers and river systems, India’s arrival on the world stage in swimming is only fair. This should be a focus to make a dent in the swimming arena dominated by a few countries.
• Judo amp; Shooting (15 medals): With size and girth not amounting to much, for the most part, judo and shooting must yield a minimum haul. With the potential to rise rapidly if resources and the right training are provided, these sports could become key medal contributors.
• Artistic Gymnastics amp; Rowing (14 medals): With a wealth of geographic diversity and a skill pool, artistic gymnastics and rowing have immense hope. A school programme and scholarships to centres of excellence in India and abroad are a must for success to slowly usher in. Rowing, especially considering its cultural and traditional place in various parts of India, from Kerala backwaters to the Brahmaputra valley, holds significant promise.
• Boxing (13 medals): While boxing has bagged medals for India, with heroes and a rich pedigree, quality coaches, enhanced diet, training, and exposure, India can become a boxing giant like Cuba, with medium funds but a vision of excellence.
• Fencing, Track Cycling amp; Freestyle Wrestling (12 medals): Fencing, though currently restricted by cost, still has its upside. Track cycling has immense promise as it is easy to start. With the right infrastructure and training, India can prosper, especially if racing tracks and velodromes are constructed and made accessible. Freestyle wrestling, particularly in states like Haryana, Punjab, and the Northeast, offers unparalleled talent and can strive to create a Dagestan-like wrestling hub.
• Sailing, Weightlifting, and Canoe Sprint (10 medals): Sailing, though not a traditional sport, will grow in popularity. Weightlifting, where China dominates, should be a priority area for India. Canoe sprint reminds us of Kerala’s snakeboat races, where talent abounds. With the right incentives, India can drive on here too.
• Other Sports: Diving, Taekwondo (8 medals each), Canoe Slalom, Equestrian, and Greco-Roman wrestling (6 medals each): These sports have significant opportunities to tap into. The Indian Olympic Committee should nurture and develop roadmaps for young athletes to give their best.

With major sporting nations and regions like the USA, Europe, Russia, Australia, China, Japan, and the UK dominating the Olympic medal tally, India currently sits at only 37 medals. However, with the right strategies, this could change, leading to more shared medals and increased competition. This will ensure that medals are earned rather than assured, making the sporting story very interesting in the future.

By ramping up investment, support, information, facilities, and competition, sports can enter the main stage of conversation in India, shifting from mere entertainment and patriotism to viable career choices, along with being areas of investment and marketing. This will help India be recognised as a sporting nation, impacting soft power portrayal, boosting morale, and promoting fitness across the country. Without this dedicated approach, India risks drifting towards the bottom rather than surging towards China.

With the USA, Russia (USSR), Australia, UK, United States (USA) with 2,629, Russia (RUS) with 1624, Germany (GER) with 1386, Great Britain (GBR) with 916, China (CHN) with 636, France (FRA) with 751, Italy (ITA) with 618, Hungary (HUN) with 511, Japan (JPN) with 497, and Australia (AUS) with a total of 164 medals at the Olympics, the task is monumental but never impossible. They need more competition with India, currently at only 37.

By nurturing the interest or developing them so India can be a contender and young ambitious sportspersons of the present and future are given direction to excel and set an example to fill themselves and the country with glory is the ideal way ahead. So like you, I am filled with more hope than pessimism.

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