Take a bow Japan for Tokyo Olympics and way forward for India

As the glittering ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics 2021 came to an emotional end, one can’t move ahead to Paris 2024 before bowing to Japan and its courteous people. The nation known for its hard work, values and economic power was looking forward to the Olympics but for the COVID-19, the biggest epitome of sports concluded with empty stands.

World War- II or the war against COVID-19, Japan did exactly what it is known for. Moved ahead with poise and heads held high 🙇‍♀️

For Indians, its sportspersons stood tall and made us proud especially in the category of medals we won. 

Badminton having its roots in India (thanks to Pune, where it all began in the 1860s) brought bronze to India courtesy PV Sindhu.

Wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Ravi Kumar Dahiya proved to the world that they were still good enough for the rest of the world in their traditional game of ‘Kustee’.

Lovlina Borgohain punched hard for the bronze whereas Mirabai lifted the weight of expectations to get a silver lining at the end. 

Hockey brought the India Shining moment after almost four decades. It was a feeling to come back home after years of wilderness.

The golden Javelin boy Neeraj Chopra put India on the gold map after years of wait and misses. Pre Olympics hype was no hoax for this wonder boy.

Mythologically proven javelin finally found its rightful descendant in Neeraj 🙇‍♀️ 

Few other sports missed the medallion by a whisker. Hopefully, we will have new champions in Paris 2024.

China is known to put kids in sports according to their talent. The children after golden glory in the Olympics are found wanting to make both ends meet after their retirements. The western world has moved far ahead and let their children enjoy what they are good at and they can still make a career out of it. 

If we look at the winners from India, all of them belong to the small towns and it’s a proud moment for the nation. 

It’s also an introspection for people like us as we are heading towards work-life balance than living our lives. 

For India, it is a different story. Education takes a lead over sports as our means of survival comes through the books.

Whatsoever are the medals, except (maybe) badminton the next champions are bound to come from villages only.

Time to think, time to get awake, else we may just end up in an educated society that survives on commercial lives. 

The change may come, but for that to happen, the system, infrastructure and mindset need a change. 

With Olympics glory, the journey may have just begun.

Disclaimer: The article is a personal observation of the sports and does not intend to comment on any individual or authority.

Image courtesy: The Indian Express