Mridula, BB contributor extraordinaire, was recently on the BBC show ‘My Games’ and relates her experiences as an athlete and also her experience trying to be part of the program.
The camp prior to the nationals, it was run by a colonel who had no understanding of sports! He would have a weird schedule and would not let me practice according to what my coach prescribed! The food at the camp was appalling. Still at the trials I gave good timings in both 800m and was decent at high jump. However, I peaked too early and performed miserably in the nationals. I was only 16 then. Now I am … with a Ph.D. from … and very happy my academic career.
However, recently a student of mine has started training for middle distance and even now 20 years later our stories are the same. He can afford a personal trainer (thanks to the pockets of prosperity in the country now) but he says nothing much have changed with the camps, the foods are still appalling. I think we have money in India but no system or vision.
If you can, check out the video on the BBC site.
Linked by madhat. Join Blogbharti facebook group.
The poor state of Indian sport is evident with the dismal performance in Olympics now underway. There is euphoria over the gold medal won by Bindra but such medals are few and far in between. It appears to be a very complex problem which is a combination of listless government, lethargic society, lack of infrastructure etc. It doesn’t seem that this will change in near future.
Malhar, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Abhinav Bindra got the medal because he and his family could create a support structure around him. I hate it when I see ‘official looking’ people sharing the camera space with him. I mean what have you done for his success? I too can’t see much change system wide but maybe a few more with their millions wouldd try and take the same route?
I agree entirely with Malhar & Mridula’s reasoning.
Indian sports is too Cricket orientated- it being a hysteria generating sport apart from the fact it does not have the scope to really develop individual skill or competance is any meaningful way! It also relies far too much on luck rather than any focus to win competively.
Jehangir, somehow the two Bronze medals won by Sushil Kumar and Vijendra Kumar give me hope. I man, Sushil’s coach is Satpal himself a gold medalist at 1982 Delhi Asian Games and Mr. Jagdish Singh who run the Bhiwani Boxing Club is another shining example of the difference committed individuals can make. So let us wait and watch London 2012!