India And The 18th Asiad Games 2018 – Capt. Narinder Singh (IAS) Retd.

INDIA AND THE 18TH ASIAD GAMES 2018

18th Asiad games took place in Jakarta Palembang from 18th August, 2018 to 2nd September, 2018. Leaving memorable moments in the minds of participants. About 45 Asian countries participated. The first Asiad commenced with a humble beginning in 1951, where only 57 medals were at stake. Asiad games came into form on the pattern of Olympics which are held every 4th year. The 2nd Asiad were held in 1954 and hence forth without any hindrance it is continuously being held on every 4th year. Due to Brexit, the common wealth games have started dwindling and Asiad Games are being patronized and catching popularity in Asia. Competitions in every event, game or athletics has become very tough. Next Asiad 2022 are being held by China who had successfully arranged Olympics in 2008. Results achieved in various sports by and large speaks volumes of the progress, prosperity, development, technology and health of the people of the participating countries. Countries holding games exhibit their technology infrastructure and overall development of that nation and its capacity to withstand odd problems including their military prowess.

In the first asiad held in Delhi in 1951, we won 15 medals out of 57 medals. Again we had the privilege to hold Asiad 1982 and out of 199 medals earned 13 medals. Thus, when our medal tally % was 26.31% in 1951 it came down to 6.53% in the Asiad 1982, which kept on hanging between 0.32% to 2.93% till 2010 Asiad. In Asiad 1982 it was shocking to observe our hockey team winner of 8 Olympic medals succumbing to Pakistan team in finals by 6-1 goals before the mammoth Indian crowd and the match being witnessed by our honourable President of India. We faced ample shame. We could not do better in 2014 asiad winning only 11 medals out of 439. It disturbed our sports thinkers and promoters. However in the Asiad 2018, India has considerably gained his position. But for losing in their favourite games like men/ women Kabaddi as well as losing gold in men and women hockey we have fairly done better than previous asiad games. In these games we earned 15 gold, 24 silver and 30 bronze medals attaining 8th position. China, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia and the host country did marvelously better making us to think for the future games. China with 289 medals virtually got more than out of the total of 465 medals, when our population is nearly equal.
For the first time we did exceptionally good in athletics and earned 7 gold, 10 silver and 2 bronze medals, standing in the 3rd position in athletics. Commendable results. China and Baharain both got 12 gold medals each. While saying so some critics raise fingers on Baharain that their individual athletes were born on African soil, like Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and Morocco, titling medals in their favour shattering hopes of prospective countries Our proud athlete Jinson Johnson who hold national record in 800 M and 1500 M, became the first Indian to stand on the victory stand with gold medal in 1500 M after our super triple jumper Mohinder Singh Gill who had stood on the podium 56 years ago.

India ‘s Neeraj Chopra popularly branded as a 20 years golden boy created ripples in the history of Javelin throw by his feat of 88.6 meters, improving his national record held at Doha this year. China with a distance of 82.22 M winning silver medal was far behind.

It was Bahadur Parsad who had last time earned bronze in asiad 1998 in 1500 M. Very remarkable achievement by our Swapna Barman in heptathlon earning 6026 points winning the gold. She deserves all accolades and praises that while she was using bandage on her cheeks to control shooting tooth ache, courageously performed well in all events out maneuvering other athletes in high jump, javelin, attaining 2nd positions in shot-put and long jump. Hailing from a village in West Bengal she hardly knew the intricacies of the heptathlon a very versatile event. She becomes the best women athlete of the games.

23 years young and well built Tejinder Pal Singh Toor hailing from Moga district of Punjab threw the iron ball at a distance of 20.75 M much ahead of Chinese putter who could throw 19.52 meters. By winning Gold Toor also broke the national and games record held by Sultan of Saudi Arabia which was set in Asiad 2010. Commendable

performance of young and sturdy Toor.

In badminton our hopes of attaining gold medal dashed when Tai of China beat P.V. Sindhu in finals leaving bronze for Saina Nehwal a popular face in badminton.
Arpinder Singh with his roots in Amritsar district earned gold medal by his strong leap in triple jump of 16.77 M reminding us the feat of our renowned international triple jumper Mohinder Singh Gill. Manjit Singh also earned gold in 800 M.
Wonder if any boxer like Amit Pangal fighting in the weight category of 49 kgs. can write better boxing history. Amit beat the existing Olympic champion H. Dusmator in finals bringing thumping glory to the country. The figure of medals earned by India looks very rosy, but discouraging results viz-a-viz other countries whose details are as under:-

Country Gold Silver bronze Total
1st China 132 92 65 289
2nd Japan 75 56 74 205
3rd South Korea 49 58 70 177
8th INDIA 15 24 30 69

What is ailing our Indiasports. Various factors are attributable for the causes and lackluster of our performance at International level. Many players / athletes remain deprived of the timely guidance and coaching. The foremost factor is that the country and States do not have well defined policy and schemes. The sports bodies are handled and governed either by political persons or by such persons who do not possess even A, B, C. knowledge of the game they administer. Lack of proper cohesion between the governing sports bodies and sports departments. Lack of proper infrastructure or sport facilities. Inadequate exposure of deserving sports persons. States are over zealous of other States to attract sportsmen. No short term and long term policy. Welfare of sport persons and timely medical aid is missing. Provision of educational degrees equivalent to matric, B.A., M.A. for position holders in various national, asiad & Olympics will benefit them to get jobs.
Proper national sports policy is not visible or not being enforced. Many States to allure sportspersons have formulated their own policy and hampers the growth of other States which is evident from the following figure.

States
Prize Money Service
Gold Silver Bronze
Haryana 3 Crore 1.5 Crore 75 Lacs Class I to III
Assam 50 Lacs 30 Lacs 20 Lacs Class II
Gujarat 2 Crore 1 Crore 50 Lacs Class I to III
Punjab 26 Lacs 16 Lacs 11 Lacs
Maharashtra 10 Lacs 7.5 Lacs 5 Lacs As per education

Doling huge amount by various States is not a healthy practice. There seems to be no logic how provision of such offer enhances the performance in a competition.
Interestingly, USA who normally tops the Olympics medal tally does not provide any prize money. So goes with U.K. China does not provide any prize money to the silver and bronze medalists. Japan does not provide any prize money to the winners. China and Japan nations medal tally exceeds the total of rest of the asiad countries. There is no homogeneity in our prize money. Instead vouch for their welfare and economic problems. Would any prize money of Tejinder Toor revive his father who was terminally confined to bed with cancer boosting his sons morale for competition. Would any amount to our heptathlon Queen who brought glory to us save her image that her father happened to be a rickshaw puller. Doubt if it is an inspiration to others. There are numerous instances to quote. Government should provide reasonable help in time and safeguard the families of sports persons. Even there is a multiplicity of offer of prize money etc. The centre has to wake up and send proper guidelines to the States regarding cash prize and offer of jobs. It is suggested that the following practice of precedence of sports be followed for any benefit.

1. Position in Olympics.
2. Position in Asiad
3. Position in Commonwealth
4. Any Independent World/ Asiad championship game which is a part of Olympic games.
5. Position at National level.

It is paramount to form national guidelines for grant of cash by various States. When any sports person participates in international games he/ she represents the country, whereas when they come back States provide them different prizes creating wedge between sports persons. Sports culture has to be inculcated at National level.
Having said so, the sports functionaries should identify various games in vogue in different States and create nursery of them in those fields. Government should ensure that sufficient infrastructure of games/ events exist in every State of such games which are popular there. Presently, sports bodies should draw short term policy and scheme to prepare our sports persons for coming 2020 Olympic games, along with long plan for 2022 Asiad games to be held in China.

The author of this article is retired senior bureaucrat and has played hockey and tennis at State level, besides organizing many sports events of repute. Has immensely contributed articles on sports in leading newspapers/ magazines.

By Capt. Narinder Singh (IAS ) Retd.

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