India witnessed outstanding performance of its 572 Indian athletes, 312 men and 260 women, participating in 36 different sports in the just concluded XVIII Asiad at Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia. Athletes took the country’s gold haul to 15. Times are changing — more and more families are now encouraging their children to play and seek a career in sports.
Glaring examples are 60-year-old Pranab Bardhan and 56-year-old Shibnath Sarkar, who were partners in bridge and brought gold for the country. Saurabh Chaudhary, a 16-year-old student from the Uttar Pradesh, who clinched a gold medal in men’s 10m air pistol. Swapna Barman, coming from a poor family, won a gold medal in women’s Heptathlon. Also several others, including Amit Panghal, Neeraj Chopra, Jinson Johnson, Rahi Sarnobat, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Rohan Bopanna, Divij Sharan.
The Narendra Modi Government’s new Khelo aur Khilo policy with Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore’s sincerity improved the sports scenario in India. Finally, the way two times Asian Football Champions India, when regaining its strength to throw challenge to its opponent, had not been given permission to participate in the Asian Games, was nothing but a poor decision and the lack of willingness of the All India Football Federation.