Sameer Agarwal

Or does it have any? I don’t have too much data around it but at least my perception is that India is not at all serious about the Olympics. We’re still plagued with mediocrity and politics (wonder what’s this Monika Devi doping case all about). Seems like we’re comfortable with being at the bottom of the medal tally. Sports it seems is not a matter of national pride for us.

Sure. How can a country that still grapples with poverty and illiteracy and unemployment ever take sports seriously? So what if we are a nuclear power? So what if we have some of the richest individuals in the world? So what if have a growth rate of 9%? So what if we are a billion people? So what?

Cricket is what matters to us. So what if we haven’t won even a cricket world cup in the last 25 years? So what if cricket is not even played at the Olympics? So what? We’re the richest cricketing board in the world. Isn’t that enough? Alright. Everyone wants an incentive. What’s wrong if a sport is supported because there is evidence that it makes money for all stakeholders? Who cares about national pride – what’s it worth anyway?!

Here’s what wrong. ‘Greatness’ is a perception. The greater others perceive you to be, the greater you feel. Of course, vice versa holds true!

Just a thought. Probably the spectatcular Beijing Olympics opening ceremony did it to me. Probably the fact that a larger percentage of the 56-strong Indian contingent did not even bother to join the opening ceremony did it to me. Probably the casual attire of Sunita Rao (in a sports jacket of all things; and wonder what she was doing there) did it to me. Probably…