A Nation Called India, It’s Citizens Called Indians, A Feeling Called Disgust

Yet another dope test blunder by SAI. Yet another athlete denied an opportunity to compete at highest level. Chances of a medal jettisoned even before the competition begins.

So what new? It has always been like that. Media will give the case a push. It will be in the headlines, depending upon the media buoyancy provided readily for the sake of Monstrous TRP’s, and as all other headlines do, this will too, die a gradual death. Notwithstanding certain Baichung Bhutia supporting the weightlifters cause.

And we will still be hooked on to some news channel, serving a hot clandestine story which would be titled something appropriate as “kamishnar ka kutta mila”, dishing out details such as “roomy 3 dinon se lapata tha”, “Delhi police ney shahar ka chappa-chappa chana” and toped with an enticing break, which in fact is there bread and butter, and which in fact is root cause of such stories being served as “BREAKING NEWS”

WTF, SORRY GUYS GIVE ME A BREAK, NEED A GOOD DAMN BOOK

First Ever individual gold medal in Olympics:

Finally after the agonizing wait of long years, India’s moment under the Olympic sun has arrived courtesy: Abhinav Bindra, a man who performed when expectations of more than 10 billion people were weighing on him. As he shot at his target again and again, he went at a place where no other Indian has ventured, though some came tantalizingly and agonistically close. Karnam Malleshwari managed a bronze, Rajvardhan Singh Rathore brought a silver, but somehow Gold eluded ?India, a land of more than 100 Crore people, was none of them good enough to win a gold medal, but now the same question has been answered by a man called Abhinav Bindra.

As this piece of news sank in, Rewards were being announced by various state governments and institutions at a frenetic pace.

Rs. 1 Crore by Punjab Government, Rs. 25 lakhs by Haryana Government, Another @5 lakhs by BCCI, Rs. 10 lakhs by Mahrashtra Government, and still counting.

First the bright part; that winning a medal in Olympics is no mean achievement, considering it’s a gold is like icing on cake and this has been achieved in an individual event is like having your cake an eating it too.

Perhaps Abhinav should be rewarded for his glorious efforts, but every bright sky has a darker side which is often neglected, though the truth is that darkness in itself makes sure that brightness is brighter.

Am I like walking the walk, or talking the talk?

No, I have a point; compare this achievement to SAI’s blunder. Perhaps consider the scenario in which Abhinav is treated Positive for a dope test, instead of weightlifter, .

Had that happened, then probably India would still be looking at a distant moment under Olympics sun. The achievement of Abhinav becomes even bigger considering the kind of sports institutions (like SAI), which are responsible for management of sports in the country & treatment sportsmen receives in this shoddy Country.

And now the darker side, which ironically adds more stature to Abhinav’s Gold medal (Notice the word used Abhinav’s, and not India’s, to me at least, it belongs to Abhinav only). Why celebrate the success when in fact you haven’t created an iota of chance for it to happen.

Ask all these institutions, agencies and states, who are all lining up to celebrate Abhinav’s success, by doling out bundles of cash to Mr. Abhinav Bindra, were they “Sleeping Dead”, when he or for the matter of fact any other sportsmen was aiming training, practicing and striving for that coveted piece of metal. Wasn’t it the duty of these governments & institutions to promote other sports in this cricket frenzied nation. I have nothing against cricket, for it is also a beautiful game, and I have played cricket all through my life. But what were these institutions doing prior to this amazing act of an ace shooter. Fuck them for me it’s like remembering a dead man (read sports) whom you have killed in front of this very public, not very few days ago and glorifying his death by bringing his dead body out of closet, and setting it up for public display. Public which was remorsefully shocked few days back will now be cheerfully happy?

It’s not first time, and it is certainly not the last time either. For me sports have died many times, and will continue dying till institutions like SAI continue to look after the sports in this country.

Abhinav I congratulate you for reaching where no other Indian has ever ventured & your name is now immortal. May you inspire numerous athletes who can claim their stakes as being world’s best despite having once insurmountable roadblocks, which of course can be overcome as you have shown.

For now I can proudly say, in MORE THAN 100 CRORE INDIANS, EK TO MARD KA BACHHA NIKLA.

And for the rest of fellow Indians, you have found another demigod.

Glorifying the death of sports continues