Ramblings of my Sunday Self - London Olympics

Ramblings of my Sunday Self - London Olympics - Part VI

05 August, 2012

Although our athletes are contesting in fifty-five events, yet much success hasn't come their way. Kudos to Gagan Narang and Saina Nehwal for bringing glory to the country.

THIS SUNDAY, my mind goes to London Olympics. I am so elated to see Gagan Narang winning laurels for the ocuntry. But still winning is not all. Alexander the Great defeated King Porus, but that was a glorious defeat, which inspires awe and admiration even today. Sometimes we need to accept defeat, but what we need more is the attitude.

A country of more than 100 crore people has no remarkable athlete should not offer a pitiable show in the global arena. Those who have participated and tried their best in a number of events are a source of our inspiration. Well, some after their glorious defeat inspire our admiration. I talk about Saina, Abraham and Gagan Narang. Yes, Narang is out and he failed to replicate the form that fetched him the 10m air rifle bronze as he crashed out of the 50m rifle prone event at the London Olympics.

The Algerian athlete, Noureddine Morceli took part in 1996 Summer Olympics after her defeat in the Olympic event said: “In life, you always have to try, and today, I may not have succeeded, but I am happy to have tried to beat my record.” Olympic for Jesse Owens, the African-American athlete is “a lifetime of training for just ten seconds.” Michael Phelps, the gold fish of the London Olympics said, “ Swimming is normal for me. I'm relaxed. I'm comfortable, and I know my surroundings. It's my home.

The 2012 Summer Olympics saw an 83 member Indian contingent. India is participating in 55 events. Gagan Narang won the first medal of the London Olympics for India in the 10m air rifle. Saina, country is proud of you. Winning or losing is part of the game but doing best efforts are more than winning or losing and this can be said about Saina. The World No. 1 from China proved to be too strong for Saina at the Wembley Arena. We can't put a limit on anything. The more we dream, the farther we get.

Michael Phelps said rightly: “I think that everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and you put the work and time into it. I think your mind really controls everything.”?Phadeppa Dareppa Chaugule who completed the Marathon race ranked 19th with a timing of 2 Hours 50 Minutes 45.4 Seconds for a distance of 42 .750 KMs and thus became India's first Olympic Marathon runner. It was indeed a great achievement for an Indian to participate and to complete the event amidst many serious adversities. Indian athletes have won a total of 21 medals, mostly in field hockey till today. For a period of time, India's men's field hockey team was dominant in Olympic competition, winning eleven medals in twelve Olympics between 1928 and 1980, including six successive gold medals from 1928–1956.

Then came the drought. Till 2012, no gold medal has come. A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hardwork. Our Indian athletes should read this in between the lines. “It is wonderful how much may be done, if we are always doing.” wrote my all time favourite Thomas Jefferson whose saying makes my Sunday ramblings more jovial and happy.