Rewind a month and there were confident talks about reaching double-digit figures on the Paris Olympics Medals Tally. But as reality sets in, despite spending over Rs 470 crore for the Paris Olympics — more than the entire budget for the Mangalyaan Mission (Rs 450 Cr) — India finish a lowly 71st. For the Tokyo Olympics, India spent only Rs 88.5 Cr. Even Pakistan finished above India with just 7 athletes. While many could argue that comparing the Olympics to a space mission is absurd for India, it could be an apt comparison. In all, India have only won 41 medals while ISRO has completed 87 successful launch missions. All launches are expensive affairs.
Back in the Paris Olympics, out of 110 athletes, only 6 could be on the podium. But there was no Olympic champion as India bagged a silver and 5 bronze medals after Vinesh Phogat was disqualified. If Vinesh does eventually get the silver she is fighting for at the CAS, India’s medal tally will equal the best-ever with 7. But is that a win as many claim it?
How did India fair at Paris Olympics?
Despite claiming that India would reach double-digit medals tally in the Paris Olympics, people who had been following the athletes were not so enthusiastic about the number. Yes, Neeraj Chopra winning the gold medal was given while shooters breaking the duck was another optimistic expectation.
Neeraj Chopra did secure a medal but he had to lose out on the gold to Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem. His Pakistani competitor had just the day and no one could beat him. Manu Bhaker scripted history but with two bronze. Shooters, in all, captured three podium finishes, all bronze medals.
There was not much hope from wrestling after the protest and WFI fiasco. Yet, Aman eventually bagged a bronze. The surprise was from Vinesh Phogat who was the face of the wrestlers’ protest. She eventually became the strongest contender for the gold medal. However, she was disqualified for failing the weigh-in by just 100 grammes before the gold medal match.
After failing to secure a podium finish in the home World Cup, India Hockey Team had to prove itself once again. And despite being in the running for a gold medal, they again finished with a bronze. Thus, there was no Jana Gana Mana in Paris. India return home with six medals. But none of those were winning medals.
With Rs 450 Crore, ISRO could send a probe 225 million kilometres away. But 7000 km away, the best Indian athletes could not bag a gold medal despite the government spending Rs 470 crore from taxpayers’ money.
Dented hopes!
Despite spending over Rs 70 crore for athletics, there was not much hope of a medal finish barring Neeraj Chopra. However, what the fans expected was for the athletes to at least give their best, and get the personal bests. Even that could have been considered a win. Unfortunately, none could better their PBs.
The tennis stars, the badminton stars, and the boxers all collectively failed.
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Where is the accountability?
As the Sports Minister gave an account of expenses for Vinesh Phogat in Parliament, let’s talk about costs. Surely, every country needs to invest in talent from the grassroots to their training, travelling, and whatnot. The government of India did that too. They spent almost Rs 470 crore for athletes and their training apart from spending over Rs 2000 crore in grassroots development through Khelo India, it says that India is on the right path.
But then, there are 6 medals that were lost. And India returned home with five bronze medals and just a lone silver. That’s a failure. The question is who will be held accountable? The govt? The coaches and support staff? Or the athletes?
Former shuttler and currently a coach, Prakash Padukone did not mince his words after Lakshya Sen lost the bronze medal match.
“After Milkha Singh in 64′ and PT Usha in the 80s, we have so many fourth place finishes. I think that it’s high time that the players also take responsibility. Atleast for the results in this Olympics and the previous one, you cannot hold the federations and government responsible for the results. They have all done whatever they can. Ultimately the responsibility is on the players to go and deliver when it matters the most.”
Prakash Padukone
Another shuttler Ashwini Ponappa and many like her asked coaches to take the blame if the athletes fail. And that seems to be the consensus. The Boxing Association of India has already fired the coach after India failed to bag any boxing medals.
Archery too could follow the same route and many other sports.
In short, it’s a collective failure that out of 117 athletes, there was not even a single winning medal.
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