The immediate fallout of the Indian display and overall medal haul at the Delhi Commonwealth Games was elation, tinged with disbelief. Was this just a flash in the pan? Was it home advantage, or the general lack of competition in many disciplines that saw India cross the 100 mark in aggregate? Would Indian teams be shown up in the
face of stiffer competition? These were relevant and pertinent questions given that the Asian Games in China’s Guangzhou were just three weeks away. Now that the Asiad is done and dusted, there are some answers indeed, many pointing to an increasingly bright future for Indian athletes, and not just in cricket. For one, the national squad turned in their best-ever performance — 64 medals in all, against the previous best of 57 at the Delhi Games 28 years ago. In terms of golds won, India fell one short of their record of 15 at the very first Asian Games, also in Delhi, way back in 1951. These are encouraging statistics and a fitting answer for cynics who had sneered after the Commonwealth Games that India’s medal-winners would be shown up when the competition got tougher. They also belied talk that the national team depended on a few events to pull their medals in — shooting, wrestling, boxing, and with a sprinkling of athletics.
A look at the 64 medals won in Guangzhou reveals an interesting pattern. From expected disciplines, India won a mere handful, with just one shooting and two boxing golds. As many as 12 came from a spread which included athletics, tennis, rowing and of course kabaddi. Other than the last, where India have expectedly dominated from the first time it was introduced at the Asian Games, the results indicate a quantum improvement in performance. Nowhere was this more striking than in track and field. While India have been a traditional power in women’s middle distances and throws, the men have done little of note in the past 20 years and more. That changed — such as the gold in the 400 metre hurdles, where Indian runners have never even come close. As always, the women provided the heft in the golden haul, with all the other four — which was so very nearly five as Preeja Sreedharan missed out on a double in distance events. In addition. the hat-trick of titles in the 4x400m relay confirmed India’s hold over the event, despite the presence of European-turned-Asian powerhouses like Kazahkstan, Japan and hosts China.
Yet, one suspects that it is in the performance in disciplines like rowing, swimming and gymnastics that will bring real satisfaction to India’s sporting fraternity. In gymnastics, India have never been looked at as even being medal contenders, and the fact that young Ashish Kumar, all of 19, was able to make a mark despite the absence of his inspirational coach over a ridiculous misunderstanding with team officials was a telling blow. So too Virdhawal Khade’s medal from the pool, which broke a long-standing jinx. And then there was Bajrang Lal, silver medallist at Doha four years ago, going one better — in borrowed equipment — this time in China. Somdev Devvarman ruled supreme on the tennis court with a golden double, while the archers overcame sniggers to make their mark as well. On the downside were the men’s hockey team failing to qualify for the London Olympics with defeat in the semi-finals, Saina Nehwal’s returning empty-handed and the shooters managing only a fraction of the golden harvest they had reaped at the Commonwealth Games. Overall though, Indians will have good reason to celebrate a big step towards greater possible success at the London Olympics two years from now.