Sports and Its Supports

Despite all the scams and incompetence which afflicted the Commonwealth Games (CWG), there has been a certain satisfaction with the performance of India’s sportspersons. There was some expectation that the Indian participants would do well in events like shooting, wrestling, boxing, weightlifting, archery, badminton and perhaps tennis. What has been a revelation to many is the creditable performance of the Indian participants even in field and track events where they have always been weak. While Indian athletes’ performances remain below the world records, many are now within striking distance of international standards. Predictably, the organisers of the CWG and sports officials have tried to use the performance of the Indian sportspersons to gloss over the poor organising and crass corruption of the games. A look at the achievements of the athletes, their training and background, reveals that whatever has been accomplished by India at the CWG has largely been achieved despite the governments and sports officials, and not because of them.