As China continues winning gold medals at the Olympics, her neighbor India, did not hope much until August 11, when »»]]>

As China continues winning gold medals at the Olympics, her neighbor India, did not hope much until August 11, when the unexpected happened. The first individual gold medal ever for India was won on the fourth day of the Beijing Olympics.

Indians are one of the most devoted followers of Olympics, but had never been able to cheer for the success of fellow countrymen in the games. India’s economic success story is now a delicacy served to every individual with an appetite of intellectual discussion. However, on the topic of sports, India sighs away.  The only sport, Indians can talk about with pride (most of the time) is cricket. But to utter dismay of Indians, cricket is not an Olympic game.  Indians used to show promise in the field hockey but after not being able to qualify for the Beijing Olympics, the very distant hope of winning pinned on may be a single medal – perhaps, a bronze? India, the second most populous country in the world is content with only one medal. Expectations of people are so low?

Why it should not be low? India does not devote enough resources for sports. It does not have a set agenda to conquer Olympics like China. Those who really believed in themselves and came up on their own skills and determination, soon find themselves victims of corruption and nepotism. So, why would an average family want their children to spend time in sports – only for heartbreak?

However, there are still few who are fortunate enough to overcome all the hurdles and make it to the Olympic team. Over a billion people stare at them with hope. They pray for at least one medal and also hope that the sports personalities will forget their individual differences and play for the country’s sake.

As Indians watched the amazing Beijing Olympics opening ceremony on August 08, they also noticed the lack of solidarity of the Indian team. Indians could not even agree on a simple thing as a dress code. It is good to express individualism, but when it comes to represent the country, one need to show some solidarity.  Few women athletes of the Indian team were happy marching in outfits not designed for the opening ceremony. How can this be allowed? Is it that those who do not want to abide with the dress code rule are so formidable that they threaten not to play for the country, and officials have to oblige to their demands? Adding to the woes, few unathletic members were seen in the march as part of the Indian contingent. I apologize for being biased, but everything these days is about image. India is a nation with relatively high proportion of young people. But when it comes to showcase India, it is always the opposite. Millions of Indians watched the ceremony and their hope was going down. They could only pray for the best.

Prayers by millions of Indians were answered by a surprise individual gold medal by a not-so-known, Abhinav Bindra. Abhinav won the individual gold medal in Men’s 10m Air Rifle event. India always showed promise in shooting but never succeeded in winning a gold. And that too in Men’s Air rifle? India had been blessed with some fine shooters in trap and skeet events and more recently, pistol. However, not so lucky in the Olympics, till Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore surprised everyone with a silver in the double trap event at Athens. Abhinav’s winning have made alive hopes of Indians again. Once more, India has reason to believe that Beijing might bring in more good news. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Update: After criticism from different corners, the Indian Olympic Association clarified that the accused not-fit-enough team members in the opening ceremony march are office bearers and not athletes. What a relief!

China made it clear on August 8, 2008 that when she seriously takes up any project; she ensures that it is the »»]]>  

China made it clear on August 8, 2008 that when she seriously takes up any project; she ensures that it is the best. There is not a single person on this planet who will disagree that the opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympics was stunning. No one could find a single flaw in the over four hour marathon.

China’s image had been on a downward spiral in recent times, starting from the toy-paint lead controversy, to situations involving Tibet and Sudan, and of course, probably thousands of Human Rights violation allegations. However, on last Friday, China showed that “they can”. The precision with which they blended artistic skills and technology was amazing. Unwarranted departure by Steven Spielberg from the opening ceremony artistic committee did not affect them at all. In fact, I would believe that Mr. Spielberg’s absence had made it possible that all credits goes to Shen Wei, the choreographer.

The Chinese had started taking Olympic Games so seriously, that even anyone watching the Olympics on television can feel the tension every Chinese athlete are going through. Those winning the Gold are blessed. But frustration, despair surfaces on faces of athletes when they miss gold or the chance seems bleak. Yesterday, watching women gymnasts’ faces during some of their embarrassing performances made us sad. It is evident that consequences of not securing a gold will not be good. How? That is something the Chinese would not let the rest of the world know.

Ever since the launch of the Project 119, the Chinese are determined to win as many golds as possible, even though they are outside the scope of the project.  A report by PricewaterHouse Coopers estimates that the gold tally for the Chinese will be 88, topping the chart followed by the United States with 87 Gold medals. We have to wait to see if this projection comes true. However, now in the beginning days of the Olympics, China is definitely showing its edge as an emerging leader. China is poised to mark the Beijing Olympics as a turning point in the history of China. It will change the way China is perceived by the rest of the world. It is the awakening of a New China  - the one portraying their determination, a positive attitude and a symbol of victory, not to be underestimated.