08-24-2004, 01:50 AM
Rajesh ji, while you make a good point on US playing marbles, you should also ask the question, <b>If India (and Indians) do not care for Olympics or Paralympics, then why bother even contesting with such a large battalion?</b>
As much as I disapprove Alex Perry's bias against India, (his Vajpayee Whiskey article is still fresh in my mind), I do find this article worth reading. I am sure most Indians will get defensive about their shoddy performance in Sports, but we have ourselved to blame for being the butt of the joke.
Perry's unkindest remarks come in his last paragraph. It's a big OUCH..
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Perhaps then India's oversized and underfunded squad <b>serves a purpose in these humorless days of professional sports</b> and all the science, diets and doping the era brings. It reminds us that at least one nation remembers the spirit in which the modern Olympics were foundedâas <b>a contest among amateurs.</b> And that taking part, <b>however haplessly</b>, is the thing that counts. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Alex does ask quite a few questions that are on everyone's minds:
(*) Aside from a handful of lesser Olympians, India had chosen Bollywood stars and cricketers as the guardians of sports' supreme icon.
(*) India's finest actor, Aamir Khan, outfitted for his latest role as a 19th century anti-British mutineer with shoulder-length hair and a handlebar moustache, jogging with the futuristic metallic torch.
(*) Former Miss World Aishwarya Rai, kitted out in a white tracksuit, giggling with her boyfriend, actor Vivek Oberoi.
(*) Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev paunchily puffing his way past New Delhi's Red Fort
(*) Statistics like "India has no football team worthy of the name, ranking 142nd in the world, behind the Maldives (population. 339,330)."
(*) 78 athletes for 28 sportsâsignificantly bigger than the average Olympic team of 53âand a host of officials, trainers, masseurs and managers.
The above comments, though unkind, are not untrue. The problem is not one of incompetence, but that of complacence. Indians do not expect their Olympics team to win anything. It is almost given expectation that there will be ZERO medals, and that any medal won will be the pride of India.
Remember Balarama, Bhima, Dhuryodhana, Keechaka, Dritharastra, Jarachanda, Chaanura and other Mallas (Wrestlers) ? If not other sports, what happened to the tradition of Malla-Yuddham in India ?
As much as I disapprove Alex Perry's bias against India, (his Vajpayee Whiskey article is still fresh in my mind), I do find this article worth reading. I am sure most Indians will get defensive about their shoddy performance in Sports, but we have ourselved to blame for being the butt of the joke.
Perry's unkindest remarks come in his last paragraph. It's a big OUCH..
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Perhaps then India's oversized and underfunded squad <b>serves a purpose in these humorless days of professional sports</b> and all the science, diets and doping the era brings. It reminds us that at least one nation remembers the spirit in which the modern Olympics were foundedâas <b>a contest among amateurs.</b> And that taking part, <b>however haplessly</b>, is the thing that counts. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Alex does ask quite a few questions that are on everyone's minds:
(*) Aside from a handful of lesser Olympians, India had chosen Bollywood stars and cricketers as the guardians of sports' supreme icon.
(*) India's finest actor, Aamir Khan, outfitted for his latest role as a 19th century anti-British mutineer with shoulder-length hair and a handlebar moustache, jogging with the futuristic metallic torch.
(*) Former Miss World Aishwarya Rai, kitted out in a white tracksuit, giggling with her boyfriend, actor Vivek Oberoi.
(*) Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev paunchily puffing his way past New Delhi's Red Fort
(*) Statistics like "India has no football team worthy of the name, ranking 142nd in the world, behind the Maldives (population. 339,330)."
(*) 78 athletes for 28 sportsâsignificantly bigger than the average Olympic team of 53âand a host of officials, trainers, masseurs and managers.
The above comments, though unkind, are not untrue. The problem is not one of incompetence, but that of complacence. Indians do not expect their Olympics team to win anything. It is almost given expectation that there will be ZERO medals, and that any medal won will be the pride of India.
Remember Balarama, Bhima, Dhuryodhana, Keechaka, Dritharastra, Jarachanda, Chaanura and other Mallas (Wrestlers) ? If not other sports, what happened to the tradition of Malla-Yuddham in India ?