Realistic Predictions for India's Golden Age of Rio'16

Juxtaposing an encouraging performance from the Indian contingent in London 2012, though short of the patriotic expectations back at home, against Union Sports minister Ajay Maken’s prediction of a haul of 25 medals for India by 2020, it’s imperative that we envision a course to the destination with a definite strategy.

Merely assumptions and optimism will get you to the Olympics, not fetch you that elusive medal. Merely fantasizing in the land of dreams makes you only a dreamer. The future story of success isn’t a one night stand in the present, but the final echo of all hard work in history. ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day!’ Making champions lies in fostering a talent to bring alive a dream. Nothing inspires a human more than an intense desire to win. All one needs to do is give the backing and the confidence that victory is our champion’s birthright.

The charting of a strategy remits not the kind of ostentatious exhibition where the ‘big guys’; the government, heads of the sports bodies etc. gather but, rather the assembly of the past champions of glory and current players of merit who should discuss, deliberate, debate and define the logical course of action from here.

We have long been denied a reason to cheer, save the occasional spurt! It is not that we lack the adequate resources to stand up to the world’s might. Rather, it’s just that we have long been denied a forceful reason to stimulate our total potential to wriggle out in the survival of the fittest. In the bleakest hour of our country’s occupation, we won our freedom with the countless hearts coming together with one emotion. The same is requisite of sport for after all sport too is an imitation of life with all its emotions. Sooner or later, the only rebel one has to conquer is one’s own fear, and master the art of making winning one’s hobby.

Most of our representatives were found wanting, including the world champion archer Deepika searching for a maiden experience in the final performance. These champions were denied their hopes but in the process brought to light the pitfalls ignored. Defeat is but natural that proves our human limitations. It takes determination to rise to the top in perfection and that’s why divinity is perfection. The wise one learns from the predecessor’s mistakes. You can’t desire to learn everything in personal experience for destiny could be cruel, giving you just one chance to attain the goal.

The promising fact is that most of the medal winners this time around and those who missed have age on their side and exposure to better equip others. If they intensify their dream and make their passion an epidemic, forging a collective pride of roaring lions, together we can rise with a gluttonous medal feast the next time around.

Going by all that has been said and assuming immediate employment of the aforementioned course of action, 25 would not be a distant 2020 vision but attainable in Rio ’16 itself.

Badminton, under the expertise of Gopi Chand, and boasting of experienced Saina, Kashyap, Jwala, Ashwini, and Viju should help garner at least 4 medals, if each of them play to their absolute potential. At least 3 yellow metals among those.

Hockey, the one-time pride upon our sleeve, has been reduced to a pitiable mockery. But a little timely backing in their darkest hour, and collective inspiration and reinvention of the sport in all levels from administration to players could promise at least a bronze, in maximum optimism. It isn’t that we do not know what they are capable of.

Our wrestlers should rake in at least 3 in Rio (if not more) given the assured inspiration thanks to the current picture of the sport in the country. Age shall probably catch up with our golden lions by then, but we can only pray that they retain the right frame of mind in the decisive hour, to clinch their elusive metal.

Archers should be the bright angels of hope to look out for the next time, given that this defeat will likely strengthen their mental will, and provide them the experience, and areas to work upon. And the women’s side should bring along at least 2 medals.

Boxing, led by Vijender, should promise at least 2, if not more, while the talented rifle-wielders in Gagan, Vijay, Abhinav etc. could deliver aces to bring in a combined 6-7 tally. That brings the total to 17 already. If tennis catalyzes the promising youngsters, and talented old warriors together, our volleyball team goes international with its merit, and other sports like weight-lifting combine with the other athletes to deliver some incredible stirring performances to land another 7-8, we have 25.

God, the desired 25 already seems so close!

It could become a national joke though, if we sat reading this article till the next Olympics opening ceremony, without soiling our hands and sweating it out in the field, ’cause as it is rightly said, the biggest enemy of future success is past success.

Stand up people, and cheer your country men coming together for a new revolution in sport. And Rio will be our destined ‘Golden age’!