INDIA doesn’t have an ideal sporting culture. Countries like China, the USA, Russia, and other east Asian countries like South Korea and Japan excel in multiple sporting disciplines as they have strong sporting culture and undying dedication towards sports. NBA and Baseball are big in the USA; however, they still have world-class swimmers, tennis players, and track & field athletes. Baseball is big in Japan as is Football in Korea, the point is, an individual in these countries takes up sports not based on opportunities that a particular discipline will give but rather on what he or she is good in. Things are not as simple though, right from identifying talent to providing them the right infrastructure, training, and mental coaching takes years to perfect and in these countries, they are well defined. I can go on with what these countries have done right and what we have done wrong, but let's focus on what we are.

It’s not that India has not produced world-class athletes, be it Major Dhyan Chand, Mary Kom, Milkha Singh, Leander Paes, or Baichung Bhutia, they are greats of their games. However, they are too few and scattered between a long timeline. Also, these greats succeeded not because of our system but because of their sheer talent and hard work.

As a nation, we need to cultivate sports as a way of life rather than just think it is an opportunity. Let’s not get philosophical one would say, but the truth is all great nations (developed) are great sporting nations and we are not. Let me give you an example – take the state of Manipur, they are one of the powerhouse of sports in India. If you take the last 30 years' statistics of the National Games, you will see despite being a small state with a population of just 3.14 million, they not only compete with big States such as Maharashtra, Kerala, UP, etc. but outshine them with their sheer ability. It means, we have talent and Manipur is doing something right that many other states in India are not doing well enough. In Tokyo Olympics, the state sent 5 athletes, where S. Mirabai Chanu won Silver in weightlifting. Despite such achievement, the number of athletes that represent the state in National competition is high but far fewer or skewed when it comes to representing the country. So, Manipur may be doing something right but it also struggles when it comes to transforming (reaching the next level) performance from National to International.

I have long believed, we struggle because most of these athletes take it as an opportunity to secure a Central Govt. or PSU sector job. I have nothing against them, as most of these athletes come from poor economic backgrounds and all they are looking for is the financial security of their families. However, even after a securing job, why are these athletes not performing - simple because it is not in our culture, and most of them lose motivation after a certain point in time. There are two things, we lack the killer instinct and need to stop celebrating mediocrity.

I fear that Hima Das may go down the same lane, if we, as a system are not able to cultivate these instincts and sporting culture. Das known as “Dhing Express" came under national focus after becoming the first woman athlete from India to win gold in the running event of the IAAF World U20 Championships. Soon, Das received the prestigious Arjuna Award for her diligence and was also made the Deputy Superintendent of Assam Police. However, Das missed the Tokyo Olympics, first, she could not qualify in the initial few events and later suffered an injury.  Do I see a pattern or complacency?

She is young and has time to recover; however, I worry the system and our tendency to celebrate mediocrity, could make her drop the guard. Das needs to understand the difference between having potential and having records, and it’s in her hand how she wants to be remembered. I mean, she no longer has to worry about money or facility? Isn’t it?