India is a big deal. It has the world’s second-largest population and its ninth largest economy; it’s the biggest democracy in existence and one of the oldest nations in history. India is known as a vibrant country that has always carried a fevered pitch and fervent excitement for sports.

But the million dollar question is – Why does India, despite a population of over one billion, field so few medalists? It is important to note that Indian athletes are no slouches. The Indian cricket and field hockey teams are among the world’s finest, having an outstanding record in a number of events. However, there are certain factors that might explain India’s under-performance at the big stage.

1. Superstitious beliefs

Probably, the most common is that both India as a country and as individuals just have other priorities. Sports is never a priority for a majority of Indian parents and their kids. Most Indians share the belief that, “If you study hard you will be successful but if you play sports you will ruin your life.”

2. Poverty

Poverty is widespread in India and because of this menace, such a massive population cannot produce good sportspersons. It is very difficult for many Indian families to provide the means to their children to pursue a career in sports. Consequently, a lot of latent talent goes undiscovered or inadequately nurtured to compete at the level of Olympics.

3. Poor Infrastructure

Lack of facilities at the grass root level is a major problem. Schools and colleges lack basic infrastructure that can encourage other sports, so even if someone has a natural talent in a particular sport, it gets crushed at the school level itself.

The concept of school sports or college sports is still not seen as an option in India’s education system. Maybe cause we lack coaches who can nurture and groom talent is the reason why we haven’t been able to produce many Olympians of international calibre.

4. Lack of recognition of sports other than cricket

Cricket continues to dominate India’s sporting landscape. Sports other than cricket are not given much weightage as a career option, because neither they appear neither financially lucrative nor glamorous. More than the government, it’s the apathy of corporates and wealthy individuals towards other sports that has to change.

5. Corruption

Corruption plagues all major Indian sports, including cricket, hockey, weightlifting, and athletics. The governing boards of the sports federations are under the control of politicians and bureaucrats who have little or no interest and knowledge of the specific requirements and anticipated problems in that sport.

A number of instances of sportspersons testing positive for doping just before an international event depicts a totally unprofessional approach.

1.     Inbuan :-

Inbuan is a variation of wrestling which is famous in Mizoram since the early 1750s. It is held in a circle 15–16 feet in diameter on carpet or grass. The game has three rounds about 30 to 60 seconds each. The objective is to lift one’s opponent off his feet while strictly adhering to the rules. Stepping outside the ring and bending of knees is not permitted. The belt or catch-hold rope, around the waist, has to remain tight all through the game.

2.  Mallakhamb

‘Malla‘ means gymnast, and ‘khamb’ means pole. Mallakhamb is an ancient Indian sport which dates back to the 12^th century. The sport was forgotten for a long time until Balambhatta Dada Deodhar, the sports and fitness instructor to Peshwa Bajirao II, revived it in the 19^th century. He thought it was an excellent sport for increasing strength and flexibility of the soldiers.  It is still a very prevalent activity in the state of Maharashtra, and children are trained for it from a very tender age. It involves an immense amount of control and focus on one’s movements.  The sport has gained some international popularity too. Truly, the unusual sports of India going global.

3.     Kalarippayattu

If you visit Kerala, you shouldn’t a performance of the spectacular martial art of Kalarippayattu. Keralaites take pride in this traditional sport and claim that it is the first martial art. It requires a specially crafted sword and shield. The practice includes strikes, kicks, grappling, weaponry and healing methods. It takes years to master and is stunning to watch. Being featured in conventional movies like Asoka (2001), The Myth (2005), The Last Legion (2007), Commando (2013) and Baaghi (2016), the martial art has gained some worldwide popularity.

4.     Yubee Lakpee

Yubee in Manipuri means coconut, and lakpee means snatching. It is a popular outdoor sport in Manipur. Yubee Lakpee is very similar to rugby and a coconut is used like a ball. It has its origins in mythology. It is said that it was played on the grounds of the Bijoy Govinda Temple on the pichakaree day by persons acting as gods and demons. The game was celebrated annually on this day, re-enacting the scene from Hindu mythology involving snatching a pot of amrit. In present day Manipur it is played by men only.

5.     Dhopkhel

Dhopkhel is a seasonal game, played during the Assam’s Spring Festival, known as Rangoli Bihu. It is the most popular amongst the unusual sports of the state. The game was once played to amuse Ahom royalty. It is played between two eleven member teams on a 125 m × 80 m field. “Dhop” is the ball that is thrown at each other by the teams and if it does not fall on the opponent’s court, it is to be thrown again. The dhop has to be caught by the opposing team, and if they fail, the other team takes the throw.

6.     Asol Aap and Asol-Tale Aap

Two of the major native games of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are Asol Aap and Asol-Tale Aap. Both involve racing canoes. In Asol Aap, the canoe race takes place in the ocean waters whereas in the case of Asol-Tale Aap they are raced on sand. At Car Nicobar, the Asol Aap race is organised by the Nicobar Athletic Association. The number of participants is generally 40 to 90, depending on the size of the canoe. The race is about 5 to 6 km long. In Asol-Tale Aap, the participants have to drag the canoe in the sand with their legs and arms. Whoever completes the distance the fastest, wins.

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand;

“Today my best friend slapped me in the face.”

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone;“Today my best friend saved my life.”The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him;After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?”

The other friend replied;

“When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.”

Moral of the story: 

Don’t value the things you have in your life. But value who you have in your life. 

People have been coming to the wise man, complaining about the same problems every time. One day he told them a joke and everyone roared in laughter.

After a couple of minutes, he told them the same joke and only a few of them smiled.

When he told the same joke for the third time no one laughed anymore.

The wise man smiled and said:

“You can’t laugh at the same joke over and over. So why are you always crying about the same problem?”

Moral of the story:

Worrying won’t solve your problems, it’ll just waste your time and energy.

An old man lived in the village. He was one of the most unfortunate people in the world. The whole village was tired of him; he was always gloomy, he constantly complained and was always in a bad mood. The longer he lived, the more bile he was becoming and the more poisonous were his words. People avoided him, because his misfortune became contagious. It was even unnatural and insulting to be happy next to him.

He created the feeling of unhappiness in others.But one day, when he turned eighty years old, an incredible thing happened. Instantly everyone started hearing the rumour:“An Old Man is happy today, he doesn’t complain about anything, smiles, and even his face is freshened up.”

The whole village gathered together. The old man was asked:

Villager: What happened to you?

“Nothing special. Eighty years I’ve been chasing happiness, and it was useless. And then I decided to live without happiness and just enjoy life. That’s why I’m happy now.” – An Old Man

Moral of the story:

Don’t chase happiness. Enjoy your life.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton