I thought finally we have got a gold medal winning performance after vinesh reaching finals and neeraj topping the qualification throw with Season Best and with India’s hockey semi-finals to go.
But we got is ill fate/mismanagement thundering on indian medal chances:
· First India lost the semis in spite of playing good attacking hockey…still not sure of medal
· The worst part is vinesh is disqualified due to overweight (which probably 1 billion people including me never thought of)
· Neeraj finals is yet to come (may be this could be only one event which I would like to watch if time and mood permits)
After such a terrific day yesterday we are back to square i.e. 3 bronze medals thanks to shooting (again am emphasising this time shooting events happened without Russian contingent)
I have no qualms in admitting in advance that this Olympics performance is the worst even compared to Rio...even after 8 years of rio we are at 3 bronze and loosing medals in badminton, boxing and may be wrestling/weightlifting.
We should have anticipated this
· When India has sent delegation of 117 athletes but support staff/officials of 140 (more than athletes)
· When many federations/players are busier in ensuring their support/personal troupe to be in paris rather than planning/practicing….. like in wrestling there were news reports antim pangal and anshu malik are busier in accommodating their support staff rather than practicing
· Before Olympics started there were news that Indian Archery korean coach was not accommodated and instead accommodated with a physio. We know how important will be a Korean coach at Olympics and still went ahead with his non inclusion.
Even with so much supporting staff (including best coaches, physios, doctors, psychologists, sleeping specialists etc) we don’t have solutions for real time problems like
· Vinesh unable to reduce 2 kgs weight before finals (unfortunately this has become the news of wrestling world rather than vinesh defeating the unbeatable Japanese wrestler Yui Susaki)
· Lakshya mid match slump in crucial semis and bronze medal match (definitely it could have been avoided in bronze medal match by counselling/coaching considering the semis slump)
· Satwik and Chirag mid match slump in QF
· So many slip ups from medal winning positions to 4th place finishes
· Indian archers shooting 7’s and 8’s though out 10 days of Olympics
· No instructions from coach to nisha to feign no injury at the first instance and manage remaining 30 to 40 seconds (maybe I could be wrong here …but I felt injury to her at first instance was minor and it was aggravated after north Korean pounced on the injured hand)
Day after day we are hearing heart breaking stories of Indian contingent…. May be I cannot take it more…
To lighten up the mood now I have decided not to follow this Olympics seriously except Neeraj chopra event (just for the sake how genuine and hard worker he is).
I know for damn sure the sports enthusiasm in me will not keep me out for long time from following India more particularly at the multilateral games like Commonwealth, Asiad and Olympics.
I know this group is amazing and you people will cheer upon the Indain contingent until the end of olympics…. All the best to the group and Indian contingent… wishing more medals from the remaining events.
Further am damn sure that Indian contingent will come out of the mess of this Olympics (due to various reasons like under performance, mis-management, bad luck, injuries etc) and come out with flying colours in future by better management of Sports federations, improving mental toughness and better preparation.