In 1952 - The first individual medal in Olympics for India came through Kasaba Jhadav in wrestling. Whenever new Olympic begins ,he was remebered as sole warrior who got medal in Olympics untill Leander Paes and Karnam Malleswari won their respective medals. Kasaba Jhadav died fighting for his policeman's pension.
In 2008- India made a history winning three individual medals in Beijing olympics.Every single medalist become crorepatis.
In 1952 it was an era of Nehruvism which was a reflection of Five year Plan, Asian games ,Industrilisation etc.That period was seen as an emerging India and Jhdav exactly reflects the same with his Medal in Olympics.
Despite a good show by Milkha Singh and PT Usha India never bagged an Individual Medal at olympics untill Leander creates a history at Atlanta.Indians were hopeful for individual medal after Jhadav ,but they were getting impatience. Who will break the jinx ? This was the sole feeling of every deprived Indian whenever olympic arrived.
But 2008 Beijing Olympic with three medals provided hope for India that now we can fight at the highest level despite having a poor sporting culture and small incentives for players of sports other than Cricket.This Cricket crazzy nation has now significant number of non-cricketian sports heroes. They way Indians diplayed there potential at this Olympics is amazing in many terms. There are lots of Akhils , Sainas are taking shape and building a high hope for future.
China got their first ever olympic medal in 1984.But, since then they have emerged superpower in sports.We can do the same thing if we plan and execute properly. Now the sports ministry should be awaken and take the cause seriously.they need to build a sporting culture ,better infrastructure ,good facilities and obviously better incentives for sportsperson of sports other than cricket. In any case Bindra ,Sushil and Vijender shows India that we have overcomed from the inferiority complex which was sustained by successive failures at the Olympics.India need to build upon the success of these three heroes.
