India in Beijing Olympics

Recently, I had mailed to one of the journalists in india, this journalist has over 30 years of experience and currently owns a publishing house in Delhi.

Below is one of such mail exchanges between us.

Mail : Kul to Me

Hello,

Mera Bharat Mahan but India has won 17 Olympic medals in the last 60 years. During the last Olympics, India could get just one silver medal. For an article on India's medal hopes in the Beijing Olympics…
-- In your opinion, how many medals can India win in Beijing?
-- In which sports can Indians hope for medals? Shooting, archery, wrestling, weight lifting….any others?
-- Has your interest in Beijing Olympics decreased since India did not qualify for hockey?
-- Why does India perform so poorly at Olympics?
Looking forward to your response and please include the country you live in.

Cheers,
Kul.

Mail : Me to Kul

Hi Kul,


Really didn't expect a mail from you...Nice to hear from you. Its also really nice to have you posted some questions for me to answer. Basically, Olympics always attracts me, but I never ever look forward india to win medals in current conditions ( I have learn to live without expectiontions, thanks to our sports men and women).

India as a country can produce many sports personalities who can keep our PRIDE/FLAG HIGH...but somehow we fail because of "SELECTION PROCESS" and "POLITICKING EACH AND EVERY PROCESS INVOLVED IN GROOMING AND SELECTING SPORTS MEN AND WOMEN IN OUR COUNTRY". If one keenly observes schools, one might admit that we fail to inject "SPORTIVE" mentality in our kids. We want our kids to land in "HIGH PAYING" jobs...currently it is SOFTWARE INDUSTRY (IT), in which everybody wants to put their hands,legs and everything on.


Coming to your questions,

• In your opinion, how many medals can India win in Beijing?

1. GOLD - 0 (ABSOLUTE ZERO)
2. SILVER - 2 ( I would be surprised if get more than TWO)
3. BRONZE - 6

My Maximum expection of medals is not more than 10 ( If there is any other than Gold,silver and bronze, probably few more can be expected) 55 member squad having 44 support members, getting around 10 medals can't it be treated as GREAT ACHIEVEMENT....

• In which sports can Indians hope for medals? Shooting, archery, wrestling, weight lifting.... any others?.

Shooting, Tennis, Boxing, swimming (new team,hopes are on), archery...

P.S: I think, Weightlifter Monica L Devi couldn't join the squad because she tested positive.

• Has your interests in Beijing Olympics decreased since india did not qualify for hockey?.

Absolute NO. Only a hope of another medal in the list got a hit. Hockey being our NATIONAL GAME, if poorly played,how about other sports?.

Gymnastics which fascinates me in Olympics...all small girls performing before huge audience, simply superb. Why aren't we produce even a single gymnast in all these years?.


In reality, Beijing Olympics getting lot of attention because of ALL WRONG REASONS...I suppose, Visitors to China wasn't great as expected by them...

• Why does India perform so poorly at Olympics?.

Following can be cited as reasons for the same,

1. Poor sports environment.
2. No Encouragement from Parents, Governments and society.
3. Poor formation process from grass-root level.
4. Politicking in every stage of selection process.

I am currently living in BANGALORE, INDIA.

If you don't mind, may i know where you hail from and where do you live now?.

Thanks,

Cogito Ergo Sum

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Urging readers to come up with their own version of ANSWERs to Kul's questions.