Asian Games: What India did Right and Pakistan Wrong

As a young kid I was deeply enthusiastic about sports. Fortunately I got to watch the opening ceremony of 1990, Beijing Asian games along with my father. Even though it was for the first time I was watching any continental multi sporting event but such was my father’s verve and interest in the games that it also raised my curiosity levels. Even though I was a kid at the time but still there was no lack of enthusiasm. Excitement was at its crescendo as I desperately wanted my beloved country to top the medals tally.

As the days passed on, India’s medal tally remained minuscule compared to China and other Asian sporting powerhouses but still I was hoping against hope that India will do well and come back with a rich haul of medals. Alas, it was not to be we performed poorly at Asian games and the only saving grace was Kabbadi in which we won our maiden Gold. Fortunately for us Kabaddi was introduced in Asian Games in 1990 and we could win that elusive gold medal. Pakistan our nosy neighbors meanwhile did very well securing 6^th position winning 12 medals including 4 golds much to our chagrin.

As curtains draw to the Asian Games 2018, Indian athletes after facing much criticism can finally walk with their heads held high. India has come back with a rich haul of 15 Golds, 24 silvers and 30 bronze all together bagging 69 medals which is their best ever performance.

Considering that we are the third biggest economy in Asia with a population of 1.35 billion we should ideally be in top four in Asia but such has been our previous record that even this minuscule haul seems like a prized catch. But this performance in no flash in the pan, a steady progress has been made and future certainly looks brighter and also it can be said with much confidence that Indian sport has made a steady progress.

Even though we have made a very slow progress since 1990 but still we have progressed especially since 2002. Sports is now taken seriously in the country and all Governments have made efforts to improve the overall standards of sports in the country. Our graph has been steadily rising since 2000. Our western neighborhood presents a starkly different picture to that.

From 6^th Rank in 1990 to a lowly 34^th in 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta this country has fallen off the cliff in sports. I tried to find out the reasons for same as to how a nation which has done well in sports in yest years has suddenly fallen off the cliff whereas India has covered some lost ground.

Some people argue that Indian performance in sports has risen with a rising economy, this even though a plausible reason is not the only reason as Indian economy was always much bigger than Pakistani economy but still Pakistan could holds its sway in sports. Pakistan was producing Jansher Khans and Jehangir Khans, they were world champions in hockey and were winning gold medals in boxing and wrestling too. Mentioned below are some of the factors which have helped India’s cause:

Indian Print Media

One of the very important reason why India has improved in sports is that Indian media took cognizance of the crumbling sports infrastructure in the country.

After winning 1983 world cup, cricket became huge in the country but unfortunately it also had serious ramifications on other sports, it killed other Olympic sports like hockey, wrestling, badminton tennis which were all major sports before cricket captured the imagination of entire nation and media lapped it up as well.

Towards the end of 20^th century satellite television had deeply penetrated into Indian households and private news channels were liked by all. But it was not private news channels who took up the cudgels to raise awareness about the Olympic sport in cricket obsessed country. In late 1990s and early 2000 scathing attacks were made on media for not covering events other than cricket also children didn’t have any idols other than cricketers to look up to. Print media realized their folly and started covering other sports as well. Photographs of sportsmen winning medals in Asian and common wealth games were splashed on front pages of newspapers and also wide coverage was given. Their stories were read and this what aspired the millions to take up the sport. Electronic media picked up those stories and there has been a steady increase in sports persons coming from small towns since then.

Pakistani Media

In Pakistan this has not happened. During Asian games, I scanned all Pakistani newspapers and news channels on You tube but there were very few news or programs on Asian Games. Rauf Klasra who is one of the finest journalist that Pakistan has produced and is probably more popular than any other Pakistani journalist in India as well and who always come with ingenious solutions to the problems did not even discuss this issue. This is one program which is he should have done.

Three Musketeers of 2008:

Year 2008 was the watershed year in Indian sport which really provided the impetus to Indian sport. It saw the rise of three legends one from plush environs of Chandigarh, another one from Bhiwani and third the village boy from outer Delhi. All these three players became overnight heroes after 2008 Olympics. Now the younger generation had their idols to emulate and look up to. Media also played it’s part and unprecedented adulation and blessings were showered on them somethings which was only reserved for super star cricketers.

Indian players giving it back:

Indian Players who did well in sports had a strong urge to give it back to the country and opened up academies. Jaspal Rana our premier shooter has taken up on himself to train the young shooters. Many boxing and wrestling academies funded by Government support have come up in the country. In south especially in Kerala and Karnataka there are lot of academies which are breeding ground for athletes.

Money Pumped into Sports:

India is poised to become second largest economy in Asia and has ambitious plan to become a powerful player in Asia. Sports is also a medium to exert soft power and Indian policy makers over the years have tried to exert the status of soft power.

These are some of the reasons which have made the Indian sports better whereas nothing of the sort happened in Pakistan. Even though sports federation in both the countries are full of corrupt politicians who want to fill in their own coffers rather than giving it to the sport but a vigilant media ensured that even sports federations become more accountable. In 1990s Indian contingent had more officials who accompanied the contingent for joy rides but media vigilantism reduced these free riders and made them accountable which is still not the case in Pakistan.

Even after all these changes have taken place India still could not find its place in top 5 in Asia because other nations like Iran and Taiwan has also improved. However, after the performing in these Asian games the only direction where in results shall go is north,

As for Pakistan Rauf Klasra and his associates have their task cut out. They cannot let the sports associations run laissez faire if sports in that country has to progress. As for India let’s hope we get to our rightful place in the medals tally which is —– right at the top.

Author: Siddhartha Dua