As we all know Tokyo Olympics 2021 are scheduled from 23rd July to 8th of august, and we have a lot of expectations from our players. Olympic is a international multi -sport event that is scheduled every 4 years. and so far India has won just 28 medals since they first participated in this global event.

India’s first appearance in Olympics was in 1900 Olympics ,when India sent an athlete (Norman Pritchard), but a whole contingent was sent in 1920 Olympics when India’s athletes competed in every sport. since then ,India has been part of every Olympics .the number of athletes increased every year from sending 5 athletes to sending 117 athletes in 2016. India has come a long way.

India’s journey in Olympics

India’s success in Olympics was majorly contributed by hockey . India won 11 medals in hockey. that was the golden period of India in Hockey. from 1928 to 1980 India won 8 gold medals in hockey. In 2000 ,karnam malleswari won bronze medal and became first Indian woman to win medal in Olympics. For gold medal after 1980(hockey), India won their next gold medal in 2008 Beijing Olympics where Abhinav Bindra won gold in men 10- M air rifle event. and Vijender Singh won bronze medal in the same year becoming first Indian boxer to win medal in Olympics.

Than in 2012 Olympics, India won a record 6 medals . wrestler Sushil Kumar won silver medal ,Saina Nehwal won bronze in badminton and Mary Kom became first Indian woman to win medal in boxing.

in 2016 Rio Olympics , India sent a record 117 Members but India just won 2 medals. PV Sindhu won silver medal in badminton and and Sakshi Malik became first Indian woman wrestler to win medal(bronze) in Olympics. that was a disappointing Olympics for our country where we won only 2 medals.

But still the most disappointed thing is that since 1900 India has just managed to win 28 medals that includes 9 gold,7 silver and 12 bronze medals. and there are many other countries who wins 28 or more medals in a single edition of Olympics consistently, Being a nation of 1.3 billion people, we have just managed 28 medals so far on the other hand if we look back to any other country like USA or Britain they are way ahead of us.

USA won 121 medals in 2016 Rio Olympics ,Britain won 67 medals in Olympics .But my point of view in this matter is that only population of a particular country does not depends on number of medals won. There are many other factors which contribute in it.but why our country still lagging behind many countries?

some of the reasons of India still struggling in Olympics are :-

1.infrastructiure of country

2.proper funding of players

3.poor rehab facilities and inexperience coaches

4.caring of athletes not only during Olympics but also in their preparation time.

5. one more reason i want to write here is cricket. Our country is a cricket loving nation every 2nd child in this country want to be a cricketer. but cricket is not introduced in Olympics so far. I am also a cricket fan, I love cricket. but the problems of us is that we hardly look beyond cricket. like England and Australia are also very good cricketing nations but they have also excelled in other sports. we should also play and concentrate in other sports to win more medals in Olympics.