Why India Struggles to Achieve Olympic Glory?

Introduction

The competition was tight until the very last shot. India's Abhinav Bindra was level with his closest rival going into the final round of the men's 10-meter air rifle at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Then, with a near-perfect shot, Bindra won India's first-ever individual Olympic gold. It was a historic achievement that many in India hoped could prove a turning point for the giant country following many decades of underperformance at the Olympics. But 16 years, four Summer Games, and just one additional gold medal later, those dreams have largely failed to materialize.

India's Underperformance

India, home to more than 1.4 billion people, is the world's most populous country. In 2022, India surpassed Britain as the world's fifth-largest economy, and last year became one of just four countries to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon. And it's led by an ambitious prime minister who has widespread influence on the global stage. But when it comes to the Olympics, India punches below its weight. India won just six medals in Paris, falling short of its record haul of seven at Tokyo in 2021. The United States, with less than a quarter of India's population, topped the charts with 126 medals followed by China with 91. India ranked 71st in the medal table, below nations with much smaller populations including Georgia, Kazakhstan, and North Korea. India has now won just 41 Olympic medals in total since its debut in 1900, all at the Summer Games.

Factors Contributing to Underperformance

Underinvestment in Sports

India's history of untapped Olympic potential can be explained by several factors, with underinvestment in sports being a major culprit. New Delhi has never poured resources into a national training program like those of traditional Olympic powerhouses, which have long regarded gold medals as a symbol of national strength. The most successful Olympic nations also identify and develop talent from a young age, and Indian athletes often face obstacles such as inadequate funding and a lack of access to facilities. India sends far fewer athletes and support staff to the Olympics than top teams like the US. Additionally, India faces broader health challenges that impede development and curtail sporting potential from childhood. Until some of these basic concerns around nutrition are addressed, it will be very hard for India to achieve greater excellence at the highest level of sport where victories are counted in milliseconds.

Additional Barriers Faced by Women Athletes

Another challenge to Olympic progress is the additional barriers faced by women athletes in India, in what remains a deeply patriarchal nation. Women athletes often have to overcome societal prejudices and stereotypes, and their opportunities and support are limited compared to their male counterparts. This hampers their progress and prevents them from reaching their full potential.

Lack of a Sports Culture

India's massive Olympic potential is perhaps best underlined by its status in cricket, by far the country's most popular sport and one in which it has become the dominant global force. While cricket's multi-billion-dollar Indian Premier League is the most visible sign of sports investment in the country, other sports have also received a boost in recent years - both from increased corporate sponsorship and government funding. However, the sports culture in India is still not as strong as in other countries. There is a need for a shift in mindset and a greater emphasis on the importance of sports in the overall development of individuals and the nation.

Conclusion

India's struggles to achieve Olympic glory can be attributed to a combination of factors including underinvestment in sports, additional barriers faced by women athletes, and the lack of a strong sports culture. While there have been some improvements in recent years, there is still a long way to go for India to realize its full potential at the Olympics. It requires a comprehensive and sustained effort from the government, sports federations, and society as a whole to address these challenges and create an environment that nurtures and supports athletes to excel on the global stage.