Olympic Woes

"A population of 1.2 billion and all we could bring back from the London Olympics were 6 medals? and not a single gold? . We trusted them so much (read:athletes), they have let the nation down."
The above comment in 1 way or another has been quoted by the rags, the media and any tom dick or harry , who until the commencement of the games didn't know who on earth  is Mary or Sushil.

6 medals is a huge deal. Looking back at India's run at the Olympics, this is the best yet.

All this hue and cry about how we, "The world's second most populated country in the world couldn't win more medals and countries with a quarter of ours won far many medals then us", will die down in the next few weeks and surface again when India goes to Rio for the 2016 games.
Let's face it guys, we don't really give a damn about them. I might as well be a little honest over here, because until the games started we didn't know or cared what these sportsmen and women did.

Whereas on the other hand we have a game that has hooked generations, churned out millions with its own premier league and which to date is played in nearly every gully of India. Yes, cricket, the religion that we solemnly have been following all these years. We worship them, pray for them, stay up nights, chant their names while we watch them play. We know everything there is to be known about them, right from their schedules to their WAG's and their pets and bikes.

In India, Cricket is THE only sport that counts, well atleast for 3 and a half years. Here is a sport that has the best; in terms of infrastructure, facilities, training, moolah, exposure. If  half of the attention we give to cricket is given to the rest of the games, India will be the sporting superpower, we dream of.

But who cares, the next India-England series is coming up and then it will be back to business. We don't care if Gopichand's academy is razed down by the government or that the national archery team doesn't have a premises to practice. No, all we care is that Sacin scores another ton. (not to undermine the great Tendulkar's contribution, he is the best)

We say that its the athletes that have let us down, but the fact is we have. We don"t believe in them, we don't acknowledge their hardwork and dedication. Playing a sport in India which is not cricket is a feat in itself and to represent it at the Olympics, is worthy of more than a few praises.
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Here's hoping that all these remarkable sportsmen achieve their Olympic dreams, that they have a better chance at winning the next time with better training and facilities. And that we, support them more often than once in 4 years. Gagan,Vijay,Saina,Mary,Yogeshwar and Sushil and the rest of the Indian contingent we are proud of you, it takes more then amazing talent and skill which you have, to do what you do. More power to you'll...