India’s Olympic Dream: Why Can't We Win Gold? | Sports vs Politics | Akash Banerjee & Mohit

Summary

This script discusses India's performance at the Paris Olympics, highlighting the challenges faced by athletes due to systemic issues, politics, and lack of support. It criticizes the sports administration for prioritizing politics over athletes' welfare and calls for a change in mindset towards sports in India. The episode also touches on the importance of recognizing and nurturing talent from a young age, the need for better infrastructure and coaching, and the role of sports associations in either supporting or hindering athletes' success.

Takeaways

• 🏅 India's performance in the Paris Olympics was considered disappointing, with a decrease in medals compared to Tokyo, highlighting a need for introspection on the country's sports system.
• 🥈 Star athlete Neeraj Chopra's silver medal was a bright spot, but the overall medal tally of six for India, compared to Pakistan's one, was overshadowed by a focus on rivalry rather than global competition.
• 🤔 The script questions the effectiveness of India's sports system, suggesting that despite athletes giving their best, systemic issues may be preventing greater success.
• 🏋️‍♂️ It criticizes the societal mindset that often discourages children from pursuing sports, viewing it as a waste of time rather than a viable career path.
• 👨‍👦 The support and guidance of parents and coaches are emphasized as crucial for nurturing talent, with the script pointing out the need for a more supportive environment for budding athletes.
• 💰 The government's Khelo India scheme is mentioned as a significant investment in sports, but the script raises concerns about the allocation of funds and the influence of politics on the distribution.
• 🏆 The leadership of sports federations is scrutinized, with the script arguing that many are led by individuals with political connections rather than sports expertise, which may hinder progress.
• 🤼‍♀️ The script tells the story of wrestler Vinesh Phogat, whose disqualification from the Paris Olympics due to weight issues highlights the challenges athletes face within the system.
• 🏓 The episode suggests that having athletes lead sports federations, as seen in the recent change in Hockey India's leadership, could lead to improvements in performance.
• 🏫 It calls for the establishment of sports academies in every district to identify and train talent, providing affordable access to sports infrastructure and education.
• 🌟 The importance of celebrating and supporting all athletes, not just those who win medals, is stressed, as is the need for a cultural shift in how sports are valued in India.

Q & A

What significant role did Tom Cruise play in the context of the Paris Olympics mentioned in the script?

Tom Cruise hoisted the flag for the Los Angeles Games, symbolizing the transition from the Paris Olympics to the upcoming Games in Los Angeles.

How many medals did India win in the Paris Olympics according to the script?

India won six medals in the Paris Olympics, which included one silver medal won by star athlete Neeraj Chopra and five bronze medals.

How does the script describe the general attitude towards sports in India?

The script describes a prevailing attitude where sports are often seen as a waste of time and not a viable career path, with an emphasis on academic success over athletic achievements.

What is the 'Khelo India' scheme mentioned in the script, and what is its purpose?

The 'Khelo India' scheme is a government initiative aimed at improving the sports scene in India and fostering a new generation of Olympians.

How does the script suggest the allocation of funds for sports in India is flawed?

The script criticizes the allocation of funds as being influenced by politics rather than performance, with states like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat receiving more funds than Haryana, which produces many medal winners.

What issues does the script raise regarding the leadership of sports associations in India?

The script raises concerns about the appointment of leaders who are politically connected but lack knowledge or experience in the sport they are supposed to govern.

How does the script discuss the challenges faced by Indian athletes, particularly in wrestling?

The script discusses issues such as political interference, lack of support, and allegations of mismanagement and mistreatment, as exemplified by the case of Vinesh Phogat.

What is the significance of the Testbook app promotion in the script, and what is the special offer for Deshbhakt subscribers?

The Testbook app is promoted as a platform for government exam preparation, offering a yearly subscription at a discounted rate for Deshbhakt subscribers during the Independence Day period, with an additional discount using a specific coupon code.

What is the script's stance on the need for change in the Indian sports ecosystem?

The script advocates for a change in mindset, reduction of politics in sports, increased support for athletes, and the establishment of sports academies in every district to foster a strong sporting culture.

How does the script address the issue of celebrating athletes who do not win medals?

The script suggests that the government should support and celebrate athletes regardless of whether they win medals, arguing that recognition is due for their efforts and struggles.

What advice does the script give to parents regarding their children's interest in sports?

The script advises parents to be supportive of their children's interest in sports, emphasizing that success in sports can lead to greatness, just as academic success can lead to becoming a 'Nawab'.

Outlines

00:00

🏅 Reflections on India's Olympic Performance and Systemic Issues

The script begins with a discussion on India's performance at the Paris Olympics, highlighting the achievements of star athlete Neeraj Chopra and the country's total medal tally. It emphasizes the comparison with Pakistan's medal count and the nationalist sentiment that follows such events. The narrative then delves into the systemic issues within India's sports ecosystem, questioning the effectiveness of athletes' efforts and the lack of a support structure. It criticizes the influence of politics and bureaucracy in sports administration, the lack of a merit-based approach, and the need for a cultural shift in valuing sports. The government's Khelo India scheme is mentioned, with a critique on the unequal distribution of funds and the political bias in sports funding. The script calls for a change in mindset, equal opportunities, and a focus on nurturing talent from the grassroots level.

05:01

🤺 Critique of Sports Governance and the Impact on Athletes

This paragraph scrutinizes the leadership of sports associations in India, pointing out the prevalence of individuals with political connections but lacking sports expertise. It calls out specific examples, such as Assam's CM being re-elected as the president of the Badminton Association of India, despite his political commitments. The script also mentions the controversial figures in sports administration and the negative impact of their leadership on athletes' performance and morale. It contrasts this with the recent positive changes in Hockey India's governance and the subsequent improvement in the team's performance. The narrative underscores the need for sports associations to be led by individuals who understand and value sports, and the importance of recognizing and nurturing talent from a young age.

10:06

🥊 The Plight of Wrestlers and the Politics of Weight Categories

The script narrates the challenges faced by Indian wrestlers, particularly focusing on Vinesh Phogat's disqualification from the Paris Olympics due to weight issues. It discusses the politics behind weight categories and the lack of support from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The paragraph highlights the extreme measures athletes take to manage their weight, the lack of transparency in selection trials, and the potential consequences of these practices on athletes' health and performance. It questions the responsibility分配ation of the Indian Olympic Association regarding athletes' weight management and the lack of empathy from the federations towards the struggles of the athletes. The narrative calls for a more supportive and athlete-centric approach from sports governing bodies.

15:06

🏓 The Need for Grassroots Sports Infrastructure and Athlete-Led Federations

The final paragraph addresses the lack of sports infrastructure and the absence of quality coaching at the grassroots level in India. It contrasts the abundance of cricket academies with the scarcity of facilities for other sports, questioning the quality of coaching and accessibility for the average citizen. The script argues against the common excuse of India's economic status by comparing its performance with other countries and highlighting the need for a more equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. It suggests that every district should have an academy for talent development and that sports federations should be led by athletes who understand the challenges and needs of players. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for parents to change their mindset towards sports and a reminder of the importance of preparation, whether in sports or academics.

Keywords

💡Medal Tally

A medal tally is a list that ranks countries by the number of medals they have won in a sports competition, such as the Olympics. In the video's context, the focus is on India's performance compared to other countries, particularly Pakistan, and the desire to have a strong showing in international sports events.

💡Neeraj Chopra

Neeraj Chopra is an Indian track and field athlete who is mentioned in the script as a star athlete who won a silver medal for India. His achievement is highlighted to emphasize the pride and recognition that come with winning a medal in the Olympics.

💡Sports Infrastructure

Sports infrastructure refers to the physical facilities and organizational structures necessary to support sports activities. The script discusses the need for better sports infrastructure in India, such as academies and proper coaching, to develop and nurture talent.

💡Politics in Sports

The term 'politics in sports' refers to the influence of political factors on sports administration and decision-making. The script criticizes the political interference in sports associations and the appointment of individuals with political connections rather than sports expertise.

💡Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy in this context refers to the complex administrative system that can hinder the progress and efficiency of sports development. The script implies that bureaucratic hurdles may prevent talented athletes from emerging and succeeding.

💡Khelo India

Khelo India is a national program launched by the Indian government to promote sports culture and unearth new talents from across the country. The script mentions this scheme to point out the discrepancies in the distribution of funds and the political nature of such initiatives.

💡Cultural Mindset

Cultural mindset refers to the shared attitudes, values, and beliefs that shape a society's approach to various aspects of life, including sports. The script suggests that a shift in the cultural mindset towards valuing and supporting sports is necessary for India to excel in international competitions.

💡Sportsperson as Federation Leader

The concept of having a sportsperson as the leader of a sports federation is highlighted as a way to ensure that the needs and experiences of athletes are better understood and addressed. The script argues that such leadership could lead to more effective support and development of sports in India.

💡Weight Category

A weight category in sports like wrestling refers to the specific weight range that an athlete must fall within to compete. The script discusses the challenges faced by athletes like Vinesh Phogat in managing their weight to fit into certain categories, which can be influenced by politics and federation decisions.

💡Academic vs. Sports Pursuits

The script contrasts the traditional preference for academic pursuits over sports in Indian society, suggesting that this bias needs to change. It argues for a more balanced view where sports are recognized as a viable and respectable career path, not just academic success.

💡Testbook App

The Testbook app is mentioned in the script as a platform for exam preparation, offering a subscription service for mock tests for various government exams. It is used as an example of a service that provides affordable and effective support for those preparing for competitive exams, drawing a parallel to the need for similar support in sports.

Highlights

Tom Cruise hoisted the flag for the Los Angeles Games following the conclusion of the Paris Olympics.

Indian athlete Neeraj Chopra won a silver medal, contributing to India's total of six medals, including five bronze, in Paris.

India's medal tally was significantly higher than Pakistan's single medal win at the Paris Olympics.

India's performance in Paris was considered worse than in Tokyo, with no gold medals and a lower overall ranking.

The lack of a success ladder in the Indian sports system is questioned as a possible reason for the low medal count.

The influence of politics and bureaucracy on sports talent development in India is criticized.

The Khelo India scheme is mentioned as an example of government investment in sports, yet its effectiveness and allocation are questioned.

The disparity in sports funding among Indian states is highlighted, pointing to potential political bias.

The leadership of sports associations in India is criticized for being politically connected rather than sports knowledgeable.

The appointment of Dilip Tirkey as the first Hockey Playing President of Hockey India is praised for improving performance.

The struggle of wrestler Vinesh Phogat and the politics within the Wrestling Federation of India are discussed.

The need for transparency and merit-based selection in sports is emphasized, using Vinesh Phogat's case as an example.

The Indian Olympic Association's handling of athlete support and responsibility is criticized.

The importance of recognizing and supporting athletes who do not win medals is highlighted.

A call to action for parents and society to change their mindset towards sports and recognize its value.

Suggestions for improving sports infrastructure and training at the district level to foster a sporting culture.

The proposal that athletes should lead sports federations to better understand and address player issues.

The episode concludes with a call for societal and systemic change to support sports and athletes in India.

Transcripts

Finally, the Paris Olympics ended and Tom Cruise also hoisted the flag for the Los Angeles Games.

And our athletes tried to give their 100% in Paris

As expected, star athlete Neeraj Chopra, who won the silver medal for India.

Along with one silver, five bronze medals were also awarded to India.

India won six medals and Pakistan won only one.

In short, Bhakt Banerjee believes that we have again defeated Pakistan

Congratulations to all of you who believe this. This is being circulated on WhatsApp.

As long as we are ahead of Pakistan, we don't care.

But in Olympics, not just India and Pakistan, the whole world participates.

India won 6 medals in the Paris Olympics and 7 medals in Tokyo, including one Gold medal.

This time Gold was zero

India's performance was worse than last year's Olympics.

India was 9 ranks below Pakistan in the final medal tally.

If athletes have given their 100% then why are there so few medals?

Is it that the athletes have given their 100% but in our system, there is no success ladder so that they can bring medals for us?

Or is it that our mental makeup is not such that it delivers such results in high pressure situations?

Or is it that a lot of politics, bureaucracy, because of which the best talent in sports cannot come up

How much truth is there in this that some players have been sabotaged by the system?

In today's Deshbhakt episode, we will talk about all these things in detail and find out

where we have been lacking and what things we can change in the future so that

Indian Olympians play similar to how cricketers played in the World Cup final.

If you study well, you become a Nawab. If you play, jump, you will be bad.

We have been told that sport is not going to help us.

Playing a sport means waste of time

Virat Kohli, Sunil Chhetri, Sania Mirza, PV Sindhu, all of them are bad.

If they are bad, then we are not Nawabs, we are the ruined ones.

All of them are legends in their field, and they have been able to become legends

because somewhere in the beginning, they got support and guidance.

In our country, if a child goes and tells his father, that, father, I run very fast,

let me participate in the 100-meter race, let me go to the practice trials.

Instead of evaluating or appreciating his skills, you will usually get taunts like

yes, you are running away from your responsibilities, from your homework, sit quietly and work at home.

This small taunt ends the motivation and orientation of those kids towards sports.

Okay, if your parents have supported you. You are a lucky one. Now what?

Parents will leave you on the ground. But once you reach the ground, the famous politics of our country begins.

Like the government came up with a scheme. A very good scheme- Khelo India.

Its purpose was that the Olympians should come out of our country.

In India, the government has invested a lot of money to improve the sports scene. There is no doubt about it.

But see, how much politics is there in this money?

Uttar Pradesh got 438 crores, Gujarat got 426 crores

and Haryana, where most medals come from, got only 66 crores.

So, on what basis was this money given? We are not taking into account non-BJP states and Southern states.

But politics and optics are inserted everywhere

At least spend more money in Haryana where athletes are performing so well

In fact, we believe that you should allocate money equally in every state and district.

You will find talent in the country

You have spent crores of rupees. Where did you spend it?

How did they benefit? We should also find out.

Where did these thousands of crores of rupees go?

We are not saying that there was a big scam. But we are saying that have you asked the players what their problems are?

Where can money be invested? or you do not need to ask?

Such a big ego, big leaders are sitting, knowing everything.

If you know, then you get the medal.

And take the blame on yourself if you can't get the medal.

All the sports associations, their leadership is always that person..

99% who will be close to the government and knows nothing about the sport

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has been re-elected unopposed, as president of Badminton association of India

What a player! A person who has no time from politics, soundbite, opposition bashing..

How can he focus on the Olympic medal and make us focus?

SpiceJet. They are not having a good time.

But Ajay Singh has time to run for President of the Boxing Federation of India.

I don't know what is the connection between airline and boxing

And Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has a lot of brains. He has never done wrestling but he has made his family the king of the wrestling universe.

He played a lot of politics on his own. And even after all the sexual harassment allegations and protests,

no one was able to get him out of the game.

Hockey is a game that is trying to escape from the Babu-Neta nexus.

A new phase of Hockey India has come.

Where Dilip Tirkey has become the first Hockey Playing President of Hockey India.

And the result is that our performance is improving on the field.

But just think, if a player becomes the President of their sport's association, then it is breaking news in our country

Now, what can be a bigger tragedy than this?

One important thing, if we identify the right talent at the right time,

If we recognize the importance of sports, the day will come when India will dominate

The solution is simple. Start from school. Change your mindset.

Politics less, sports more.

Other than cricket, raise awareness about sports in children and parents

What kind of careers are being made in sports? And yes, sports is beyond cricket

And when we talk about preparing, when we talk about catching them young,

then let me tell you that every year in India, crores of children prepare for government jobs.

All the students keep looking for some platform to prepare.

But how many of these platforms are effective, affordable?

This is a big problem for the students. Testbook app solves this problem

On testbook, you can get yearly subscription for just Rs. 599

And in this, you get thousands of mock tests for all the government exams in India.

For example, in government jobs, there is an exam called RRB NTPC

Google and find how many students appeared in RRB NTPC in 2019 or 2021?

Search and see. In 2021, 1.2 crore students had attempted RRB NTPC exam

on testbook, more than 34 lakh students had prepared for RRB NTPC

lakhs of students prepare for mock tests on this app.

And there is something special for Deshbhakt subscribers. Independence day is coming soon..

So, the price of Testbook Pass is for 14th and 15th August. For just these two days, it will be Rs. 349 instead of Rs. 599.

And while taking the subscription, if you use coupon code DESH, you will get an additional 12% instant discount.

I have given the link and coupon code in description

Do try it out. You can easily explore the testbook app.

Back to the story. In India, successful businessmen are often said to be successful despite the government, not because of government

same story is in sports. Success despite the sporting federation, not because of the sporting federation

There can be exceptions but this is the rule.

In such a situation, the atmosphere is less of sport and more politics.

The player's whole time is spent doing politics

uses their skills less, networking skills, and who they are making angry and happy.

Like our country's pride, our wrestlers, put serious allegations on Brij Bhushan Singh

And by not listening to them, by not understanding their issues, by not addressing their issues,

it was attempted to prove that the players were culprits.

Now, if such an anti-player agenda, such an attitude, of the government or the federation,

then how will the players of the country get the gold medal?

On the contrary, everyone is dragged, their tears are told to be false,

those players kept crying, kept coming to the streets with their demands, kept struggling, but no one listened to them.

But even after this, when Brij Bhushan had to leave his chair, when so much happened, so much public pressure happened,

still, look, justice was not done. Sanjay Singh, Brij Bhushan loyalist got the federation chair

and his son got the ticket to the elections as compensation.

Every sports fan and player of the country was shown that they should stay in their limits.

This is our system and our will will prevail here.

Despite seeing all this, the players who protested, when the time came, they got down on the ground and fought so well.

This is a story of how Vinesh had to choose a lower weight category due to the politics of the WFI.

There are many sports where India is still not in a position to compete and we should work on them.

But in wrestling, India could easily dominate the world.

Our wrestlers have given a great performance but we could not win gold.

Vinesh Phogat, despite politics and challenges, defeated Japanese wrestler Yui Susaki

The final match was eyed upon by the entire nation, it was going to be interesting

But on the morning of the contest, Phogat was disqualified from the final of the Paris Olympics

A dream that came so close, it broke.

And what would have happened to that athlete, we cannot even imagine

There is a thing in wrestling - Reducing your weight in a very short time, so that you can stay in your weight category

Vinesh did not eat anything, not drink anything, chopped her hair and pumped out blood

Vinesh weight spiked to 52.7 kg, even after working for entire night, the weight was 50.1 kg

But the extra 100 grams was due to disqualification.

Why did Vinesh come in the 50 kg category? Why not in 53 kg?

In 53 kg, Vinesh's performance would have been better. In 53 kg, Antim Panghal represented India.

She had to face defeat in the first round.

Vinesh wanted trials in India based on merit, But the federation did not listen to him

We are not saying that Antim is not deserving or she did not work hard, we are proud of our athlete

In the 53 kg category, could Vinesh have been a better choice?

Was there any transparency? Or did she fight with some fear in 50 kg category?

And the biggest thing is, when this situation comes up, the Indian Olympic Association says

that the weight management of the athlete is the responsibility of the athlete and coach.

Everyone is here to save their butt.

Olympic Association has a medical team and it is their responsibility to take care of players' recovery, injury management, nutrition, therapy, etc.

But now it is being said that the player's weight management is their and coaching staff responsibility

So if you don't stand with your player in a difficult time, will the player win gold.

On 7th August, IOA announced that they tried all night to get weight under 50 kgs.

On 12th August, IOA announced that they will not say anything else. Nothing needs to be said from their side.

Only the coach and players will know their own business

Even then, the chatukars thought it was right to blame Vinesh. Their thinking is so bad.

The way it is easy to blame someone without thinking about their struggle, it is easier to say well done, you tried, we are proud of you.

But there was not even this much humanity in many people.

Now, was there politics behind this or was it stubbornness, failure of the federation or revenge of wrestler protest..

Or bad luck on the final day - We can only hope that we get the answer to this question.

But the good news is that despite not getting the medal, most people supported and supported her

because they saw the struggle.

You will find thousands of cricket academies in this country. Cricket is the pride of our country. It should be.

It is a very good thing. But have you ever thought about the number of academies for javelin throw, shooting, hockey?

And if there are academies, how many good coaches are there?

Or if there are good coaches, can a common citizen afford them or not?

Because, look, anyone can open a stadium, anyone can cut the ribbon, but what training is being done inside

what facilities are there inside it, what is the coach doing inside it, we never ask

So, we don't know about the environment, guidance, nutrition, coaching, etc. And then we wonder why we don't get medals.

Whenever we talk about medals, we are given an excuse that the countries that are getting medals are rich and we are poor.

This comparison is wrong. So, I ask, let's talk about the US and China

The medals they bring, more than 100 medals, what do they eat?

Why don't we have that ? What kind of performance-enhancing herb do they have?

That they eat and we can't eat.

Okay, leave the US and China. They are very rich, they have a very high per capita income.

Let's look at the 10 countries in our position. Who is above us?

Is the condition of all these countries, the economy of all these countries,

the sporting infrastructure of all these countries better than India?

Or are they champions since birth, like we are engineer doctor from birth?

Money is being spent. What is the intention? Where is the respectability?

Telling problems is easy but finding solution is difficult.

But if we take that thought process, we can find solutions.

First of all, every district needs to have an academy where talent is trained, educated

and an affordable sporting infrastructure is built for every citizen of the country.

You will not only get good athletes, but also your employment generation.

There were 32 sports in the Paris Olympics this time, of which 48 disciplines were there.

How many of them you know?

I am not saying that you should put 48 coaches in every district, but if you put 3-4 highly qualified coaches

then the foundation of sporting culture will be strong in country.

You will get to learn discipline. If there is an injury, you will get to understand therapy, recovery, nutrition.

This is not rocket science. And it will have a side benefit.

Healthy Indians will also be made because we don't seem to care about our health.

We are all roaming around with fat tummy

Secondly, let the athletes be the president of the federation.

If you want to make the country world-class in a sport, then the leader needs to be a sportsperson.

to understand the players' issues and find a solution.

You may say it's difficult. It's possible. It's a matter of intention

Olympics or Commonwealth Games or any international sporting event,

when athletes perform, they come back to India and if they win a medal, they get endorsements,

they get followers on social media, they become a star overnight.

But very few examples

There are many such examples who have gone to the Olympics, but after that they have returned to the life of anonymity.

The government should support those athletes, they should also celebrate those who couldn't win medals.

If you can't celebrate them, you don't have the right to claim credit when they win medals.

We have tried to cover the problems and not very difficult solutions.

We want to change one thing. If you are a parent, listen up.

When your kids talk about sports, say this new line -

If you study, you will become a Nawab. And if you play, you will become great.

I hope you liked this episode. This is away from politics, but sport also has politics

See you in the next episode.

Thanks to Testbook for making this episode possible.

Don't forget to check their Independence Day offer. I have given the link in the description.

Additional discount for Deshbhakt subscribers. Be it sports or exam preparation, prepare well