Think twice, before you critically demoralize the country’s best at Rio,writes Sumeet Naik.
It’s been less than a week since the world’s best are seen competing for a medal and glory at the ongoing Rio Olympics 2016. So close is the battle that few have missed their chance at grabbing the metal by point or half margin. Our very own 2008 Olympic gold-medalist Abhinav Bindra, missed out on a medal at Rio after finishing fourth with a difference of .5 to Ukraine’s Serhiy Kulish. And on the other hand to prove that sports is nothing but an event of performance based surprises and comebacks, Juan Martin del Porto, the 2009 US Open champion who was on the verge of retirement due to series of wrist injuries, stunned the entire world by defeating Novak Djokovic.
Amidst all this eventful happening there are few who have jumped onto project their oratory skills by illogical act of criticism. I wish not to name any, not out of any fear but I see no need to give any importance to them or their so called ‘expert’ comments. Why are we so quick in criticising? And equally slow in appreciating?
Let us all get one thing straight, that those representing India at Rio are not just talented sports persons but they are the country’s best. They are there because of years of hard-work, dedication and sheer zeal for a podium finish. No one goes Olympics with an intention to lose, not even the smallest of the smallest contingent or an unknown individual participating in the Games for the first time. They are out there to go for the kill and give their lifetime best.
Players representing India for second or third Olympics have worked day in and out to improve their past record or correct upon their mistakes. But to nail them for their failure to bag any medal and project them as losers is sheer mockery of all the laurels they earned for the country in the past. Similarly, the other worthy opponents too have enhanced their sporting skills from the past to present. Hence, it doesn’t mean that our sportspersons underperformed, it just goes to show that ‘the best’ won.
There is still long way to go and I don’t see any reason why anybody should start criticising or feeling sorry about the performance of India at Rio so far. Yes, some might be having plans and ideas with regard to bringing in the improvisation in the processes of preparing our sportspersons for next Olympics or even getting rid of some lacunas persisting in the administrative set-up. But, this is certainly not the time. We can look into such matters once the squad returns from Rio.
It’s time to applaud the efforts of those who tried their best but failed at the ongoing Olympics, but it is even more important to cheer the ones who are yet to put their best foot forward.
