Indian Sports On The Up
We are seeing some good news coming in from the sporting arena these days. Indian sport lives.
Indian Tennis has a new star. Somdev Devvarman has qualified for the US Open singles, coming through the tough qualifiers. He hasn’t just qualified but won his first round match as well. Somdev happens to be the first Indian male player to qualify for the singles main draw of a Grand Slam event in seven years, which in itself portrays a sad state of affairs. But we will look at the brighter side for now.
In women’s singles, Sania Mirza has moved on to the second round herself. We just hope she is able to get over her injuries and regain her pristine form of 2007 where she even defeated the current world number one, Dinara Safina.
In Football, India today triumphed in the Nehru cup winning the final against Syria. Small consolation for a national team that ranks a lowly 156 in the world.
Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh has been ranked world no 2 in the 75 kg category in the boxing rankings announced by the International Boxing Association (AIBA). There are other Indian boxers in the top ranks including Manoj Kumar (2nd in 64kg), Thokchom Nanao Singh (5th in 48kg), Akhil Kumar (9th in 57kg)
Women’s boxing will be included in the London Olympics (2012), which is excellent news for India. In the last world championship held in China, India won 4 medals. Mary Kom is India’s great hope and winner of a record 4 gold medals ever since the world championship started in 2001.
In Badminton, Saina Nehwal has been doing India proud. The world number 6 won the Indonesian open earlier this year and reached the quarter finals at the world championship. Chetan Anand is also doing well in the men’s circuit, and is currently ranked 14 in the world.
Force India managed a podium finish at the Belgian GP, and the media is going berserk. The only thing Indian about the team is its owner, so not sure it should be hailed as the coming-of-age of Indian F1 racing yet.
Great work, all you outstanding sportspeople. Kudos to you for making it big despite a system that doesn’t really work very well at bringing out the best in you, unless you play cricket.
(Image courtesy: oneindia.in)
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September 1st, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Yeah, it’s refreshing to see other sporting action get the limelight! I think Abhinav Bindra inspired a lot of budding sportsmen.
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am
And the sports minister thinks that F1 is not a sport ! And when looked at his point from a particular point, he may have an argument at that.
I am not sure if it will be a sustainable one at that though.
But what matters really, is how much the government is willing to give and nurture those sports which they do think ‘matters’ !
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:37 am
The refreshing change is that Indian sports other than cricket are doing well.
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:31 am
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September 2nd, 2009 at 1:48 pm
I think its a bit hasty to declare Indian sports on the up, just because some hyped up achievements of a few individuals.
I can tell you that having grown up in urban India, the situation for sports is getting worse day by day. There simply is no space to play any kind of sport. All the open space is taken up for (illegal) parking and even the parks and gardens that are built, kids arent allowed to play on. If you notice, many of these sports persons are from the North East (which has a totally different culture) or from rural India. Urban Indians need to accept sports as part of life and culture rather than indulge ostentatiously in whatever random ’sports stars’ a country of a billion produces.
I am doing graduate study in the US right now, and I can tell you that among the incoming grad students Indians are probably the most unhealthy. And if indeed they do engage in physical activity, it is a game of cricket on a Friday, which although spiritually satisfying isnt much of a workout.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Great news about women’s boxing in the 2012 Olympics. Australia should be represented by some strong talent
September 6th, 2009 at 2:43 am
It’s awesome indeed. And yes, force india’s victory caught even the team by surprise!
September 6th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Kudos to Indian sportsmen!
September 16th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Thanks for the responses, guys! For some reason i missed responding earlier.
The big news continue – Vijender’s bronze in the world championship, and Leander Paes winning the US Open doubles!
Cheers to Indian sports!
November 17th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
This is a very good news for Indian sports.But in my point of view this is not enough,according to population we are nothing in world of sports.Sports federations came in for some sharp criticism from the panelists for their failure to upgrade and keep up with the times, as well as promoting other sports.