Opinion | Tokyo Olympics: Indian athletes combined for record medal haul – no thanks to the government
- The Indian public met the results with elation, fully aware their athletes must rely on grit, hard work and meagre resources
- In the absence of greater government support, private funding may become increasingly important for India’s Olympics athletes
For most Indian athletes, winning an Olympic medal is not only a sporting achievement but also a triumph of willpower and desire to succeed despite economic deprivation, government neglect, failing infrastructure and sometimes prejudice.
The Indian public met the results with elation, fully aware of the overwhelming odds facing their athletes, forced to rely on grit, hard work and meagre resources.
The government has not made investment in sport a priority. The budget for sport was slashed by more than 8 per cent, from US$386 million last year to US$350 million. The Sports Authority of India also cut the daily food and supplement budget from US$9.2 to US$5 for athletes preparing for the Olympics.
In India, every sport takes a back seat to cricket. Field hockey has in recent years surrendered its status as the national sport but there have been calls for a recommitment after the men’s team broke a 41-year medal drought by winning bronze in Tokyo.
The Indian cricket board is the sport’s richest governing body, controlling about US$2 billion. It is administered by Jay Shah, whose father, Amit Shah, is India’s home minister and one of the country’s most powerful politicians.
Cricket is not an Olympic sport but enjoys obsessive support in India. Virat Kohli, the Indian captain and one of the world’s greatest batsmen, has an estimated net worth of US$140 million.
