| FROM PRITCHARD TO SUSHIL KUMAR- INDIA’S OLYMPIC OEUVRE |
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Sudharshan Giridhar |
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In 1900 Norman Gilbert Pritchard, a British descendent, born in the pre-independent India became the first man to represent India in Olympics. He was also the first to open an account for India in the medal tally. He won two silvers in 200 meters running and 200 meters hurdles.
Since then India has been an active participant in the Olympic Games. The six medals, comprising of Gagan Narang’s bronze in 10m rifle, Vijay Kumar’s 25m rapid fire pistol, Saina Nehwal’s bronze in badminton, Mary Kom’s bronze in 51kg flyweight boxing, Yogeshhwar Dutt’s bronze in 60kg freestyle wrestling and Sushil Kumar’s silver in 64kg freestyle wrestling, in this year’s London Olympics is the biggest haul in India’s century long journey. Two medals each in shooting and wrestling and a medal each in boxing and badminton show India’s strengths.
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Though these six sports personalities have promised to get a more lustrous medal in the next edition of the Olympics that will happen in Rio, Devendro Singh, the 20-year-old boxer who was defeated in the quarterfinals, Parupalli Kashyap, who was also defeated in the quarterfinals of the badminton competition, Vijender Singh, the Beijing Olympics bronze medalist, discus throw finalist Vikas Gowda, the 20km walk specialist Irfan Kolothum Thodi have also proved to be promising prospects for the Rio Olympics.
On the other hand, the disappointments of this year were India’s biggest hopes like World no 1 archer Deepika Kumari, tennis exponents Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Boppanna, Leander Peas, Vishnu Vardhan, Sania Mirza and Somdev Devvarman, and Beijing gold medalist Abinav Bindra. However the greatest dud of all was the performance of the Indian Hockey team. India, which ruled the game from 1928 to 1980, winning eight Olympic gold medals, 2 bronze and a silver, and the team which was also the first one to qualify for the 2012 Olympics failed to win even a single match. They finished at the 12th place this year.
But the brighter part of this year’s Olympics is that India has doubled its tally from the previous edition. There were 302 events in this London Olympics and India participated in just 55 events and even managed to win 6. Participating in more events will increase the probability of winning more medals and will also act as a platform for more new talents.
Though India has finished 55th in the London Olympics, it shouldn’t stop us from saluting the six heroes. Let’s hope the tally grows in geometrical progression from the Rio Olympics.
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