Paris Olympics 2024 – An Indian Introspection

As Paris 2024 is history, it’s time for reflection and adaptation. While there are areas for improvement, India can take pride in several positives, most notably the five bronze medals and the lone silver from Neeraj Chopra. Amid the noise and confusion, there’s still reason to celebrate. The six fourth-place finishes by Indian athletes are a significant achievement, as they came agonizingly close to securing medals, often by the narrowest of margins. India had a 22-year-old shooting star, Manu Bhaker, and a 21-year-old wrestler, Aman Sherwat, at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Their achievements testify that our young athletes can win laurels on the world stage. A long future awaits them and hopefully, the Indian national anthem and the tri-colour will arise simultaneously in Los Angeles 2028.

P. Sreejesh, the stalwart of Indian hockey, has been a fortress in goal not only in Tokyo but also in Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016. Paris 2024 mirrored the drama of Tokyo 2020 for Indian hockey, but despite the frantic and relentless efforts of the Indian forward line in the semi-finals against Germany, their attempt to equalize fell short. Shamsheer Singh’s shot, which narrowly missed the goalpost before being deflected by the German goalkeeper, was a moment that could have changed everything. Had it found the net, India might have been on track for gold or silver. In the fast-paced world of hockey, those fleeting moments of passes, scoops, hits, and misses form the thin line between success and failure, capable of altering the outcome and the colour of the medal in the blink of an eye. Craig Fulton’s boys are capable of winning the gold in Los Angeles in 2028 which they missed in Paris 2024. Our ladies’s Hockey team, which is among the top ten teams worldwide, can also be one of the medal contenders considering their grit and commitment throughout the years. 

Hockey was and is India’s invention and probably our innovation for a long, especially under Major Dhayan Chand but the fall started in Rome in 1960. The contention that India needs to focus only on the disciplines or individuals capable of winning medals is right, but the expected outcomes will also be less. To avoid the lesser number of medals we would fetch or win, it is imperative to broaden the catchment area and talent pool of athletes to diversify and attract the young for the highest accolades in the sporting world. A more inclusive approach could boost overall performance and foster a more robust sports culture. This strategy could help identify and nurture talent across different sports, leading to more balanced and sustained success at international levels. Khelo India is a step in the right direction offering an opportunity to our young minds to excel and develop the mental toughness paramount for sporting success.

Indian families are more inclined to academic successes though there is a change in the urban mindsets of achieving sporting excellence and making sports a career. The change has come in due to the successes of predominantly our wrestlers, shooters, boxers and archers in the Olympics of the 2000s. This evolving attitude could also lead to more resources and opportunities for budding athletes, fostering a more comprehensive sports culture supporting academic and athletic achievements. We also need to accept the fact that Olympic medals have come from athletes who dared to dream, alter mindsets and be the torchbearers of change in the rural countryside. Mary Kom, Lovlina Borgham, Yogeshwar Dutt, Ravi Dhaya all came from the remotest parts of the country which lacked the urban shine or glamour and put India in the forefront. 

Vinesh Poghat took the world by storm and the entire nation was with her in defeat and victory. It is very clear that rules are rules and no leniency can be made at the highest level but the fact that she had won the semifinals makes her technically and professionally the legitimate holder of the silver medal despite the fight not taking place between her and the American wrestler Sarah Hildebrandt. Further the bronze went to Yui Susaki who was defeated by Vineesh Poogat. The rules and regulations need to be reviewed by the WWF (World Wrestling Federation) more systematically and logically than the IOA (International Olympic Association).

 There were several fourth-place finishes which were upsetting for the athletes and India but we need to reconcile to the fact that they came close to a podium finish and would be medal contenders for Los Angeles 2028. Dhiraj Bommadevara in Mixed Team Archery, Arjun Babuta in 10 m Air Rifle Shooting, and Mirabhai Chanu in 49 kg category were agonizingly close to a bronze medal. Lakshya Sen in Badminton also was on a winning streak but lost out in the second and third games against Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia. Sen struggled with a bruise to his right arm which affected his overall game and cost him the medal. All of them do have a strong chance for Los Angeles 2028 considering their experience, expertise and track record.

An Olympic victory isn’t achieved in just a year or two of intense training or by steadily climbing the world rankings. Abhinav Bindra was only 18 years old during the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and came tantalizingly close to winning a medal in Athens in 2004. The wait, however, proved to be worth every effort, reflecting the countless hours he dedicated both on and off the shooting range. When I won the gold, I didn’t feel the sense of euphoria that everyone around me did. I felt relief. I had finally done what I had set out to do, and that was enough.” (Bindra & Rathore: 2011)

Bindra’s words remind us that the culmination of years of dedicated effort, persistence and relentless pursuit of a goal brings a genuine satisfaction rooted in the fulfilment of personal objectives, rather than the external celebrations that follow or are planned.

The Paris 2024 Olympics marked the 32nd edition of the modern Olympic Games, a global celebration of human determination and excellence that takes place every four years. This grand event will forever enshrine the names and stories of athletes whose extraordinary achievements will be etched in the annals of history. Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands became the first woman to win gold in both the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, mirroring the feat accomplished by Emil Zátopek in 1952. Armand Duplantis continued to set new records in the pole vault, renowned for its thrillingly swift aerobic take-offs and landings. At 37 and having undergone knee surgery, Novak Djokovic secured the gold, adding to his impressive collection of 97 ATP titles. Simone Biles and Sydney McLaughlin of the USA stood out as the best in their respective disciplines of gymnastics and the 400-meter hurdles. India missed Dipa Karmakar as she missed Paris 2024, she came very close to a bronze in Rio.

India needs to cultivate a more progressive sports culture. Making Physical Education (PHE) classes mandatory for every child across all school curriculums will help nurture and build our future sporting heroes. The PHE classes should not be substituted nor altered within the timetable giving other academic subjects more importance. While cricket is a national obsession, it should not be the sole focus, as the sporting world is increasingly diverse and competitive. 

As we celebrated the performances, the Indian contingent of Paralympians kept the tricolour flying high with an impeccable achievement of 29 medals. Prime Minister Modi seemed to relish every moment with the Paralympians on 12th September. It was heartwarming to see him sit down as Navdeep Singh, the javelin throw gold medalist, placed his autographed hat on the PM’s head—a true sporting gesture that won the hearts of millions. 

There aren’t many takers in India for Mountain Bike Climbing, swimming, fencing, heptathlon, pole vault, gymnastics. Flag football, lacrosse, squash, cricket and baseball will feature in Los Angeles 2028. Squash and cricket among the five are the only ones where India has a credible presence or domination. Though Flag football is new to India many are not aware of the fact that we are the 30th placed team in terms of word rankings according to IFAF (International Federation of American Football) and that is a window of opportunity to make a mark and usher in a new interest which can form a passion among our youth. As diversification in any field yields results in the long term, sporting administrators and the government, in general, should stipulate a certain discipline specifically for each state to patronise and deliver. A prime example of this strategy’s success is the Odisha government’s support for the Indian hockey team, which played a crucial role in reviving the sport after a period of decline. Chhatrasal Akhada in Delhi has produced six Olympic medallists since Sushil Kumar’s bronze at Beijing 2008.

Colleges and universities should integrate sports sciences and sports psychology as core subjects in a more effective manner to engage the youth. Additionally, the Union Sports Ministry must address the issues of nepotism and corruption within state associations and federations. Although the business and corporate world gravitates towards cricket due to its popularity and market dynamics, our central and state governments must prioritize sports funding and development at the grassroots level. Michael Phelps in his book No Limits says “I had proven to myself that I could swim multiple events against a first-rate field ”. In the stands, my mom held up a sign. It read “ Actions speak louder than words” (Phelps & Abrahamson: 2008).

If Olympic success should be a reality for India, our actions should speak louder than words.

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References

1. Bindra, A., & Brijnath, R. (2011). A shot at history: My obsessive journey to Olympic gold. HarperSport.
2. Business Standard. (2024). India’s tryst with heart-breaking fourth-place finishes at the Olympics. Business Standard. https://www.business-standard.com/sports/olympics/india-s-tryst-with-heart-breaking-fourth-place-finishes-at-the-olympics-124080600678_1.html
3. Cradle of Indian wrestling. (n.d.). Deccan Herald. https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/cradle-of-indian-wrestling-3172084
4. International Federation of American Football. (2024, April 3). Flag football world rankings 2024. American Football International. https://www.americanfootball.sport/2024/04/03/flag-rankings-2024/
5. International Olympic Committee. (n.d.). Paris 2024. Olympics.com. https://olympics.com/ioc/paris-2024
6. Phelps, M., & Abrahamson, A. (2008). No limits: The will to succeed. Gotham Books.