India's sports embarassments continue in the Asian Games. 
The world's second most populated world that boasts of many a success story in the sports arena has been humbled, yet again. Sports and games in India have a number of heroes with a halo around them. However, when it comes to an international event, India as a sporting nation returns beaten and bruised. Asian Games 2006 could not have been more disappointing, to say the least. As the mega event wound up, India finished eighth, even behind Uzbekistan. The medal tally read just 10 gold medals, and an overall 54. The 15th Asian Games was yet another occasion for a nation on a cricket over-diet to sit up and think. Mysteriously enough, India didn't even have any idea of its own team size. There have been reports that no official was able to tell how many sportspersons had taken part in the 15th Asian Games at Doha from India. The team size was so big (some say it's 350-plus) that the Indian presence was everywhere on the field, but nowhere near the victory stand. While many an athlete we sent to redeem our pride were not to be traced, some others sank without trace. There indeed were a handful who won the 54 medals, but then considering India's team size the, the number of medals they bought proved to be a matter of ridicule than anything that would have made the Indian citizen or the government proud. Further, a couple of sportsmen, who the Indians treated as Gods till recently, turned the worst enemies of India on the Doha international forum. The ugly spat between tennis players Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, Jaspal Rana gifting a piece of his mind to the association that sent him to Doha and the like rendered India even weak in Doha. The paltry 54 medals and the unprofessional spat between sportsmen and the official-level indifference did no good to India's reputation. Mind you, this is a nation that is already going ga ga about hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games. India, funnily enough, is bidding for 2014 Asian Games as well. The 10 gold, 18 silver and 26 bronze tally sketched a picture of a utterly sketchy team spirit. India, who once took pride in being one among the best in disciplines like athletics, hockey, shooting, golf, tennis et al saw itself being pushed down the cliff by its own team members. Bad performance, unsporting attitude and leisure-loving officials ensured India's fall. Sports lovers back home still haven't got over from the shock. It is once in a few years they get to look forward to something other than cricket. This year's Asian Games, when it opened in Doha, was a welcome change for the television buff too. However, they ended up being a disappointed lot thanks to the performance of the team. To top it we had the Lee-Hesh nonsense. When will India learn to keep performers like the 15th Asiad team at bay? When will we learn to punish the Leanders and Maheshs for making a mockery of our sentiments? |
