In a make believe Indian media world — where no sports exist other then cricket — Olympics sports manage to take the centre-stage.
Despite a cricket series underway in Sri Lanka, the media for a change was made to shift its focus to shooting and Boxing.
Abhinav Bindra opened the blindfolded media’s eye – not just by winning India’s first-ever Individual Olympic gold, but also not willing to say a single bad word on anything including Indian sports management.
Therefore, the media had to focus on genuine things that every sports lover loves to know and be associated with.
Secondly, the Bhiwani Boxers – Akhil Kumar, Vijender and – kept the Olympic flame aloft in the media. Their feat, not even fully complete, are already being hailed as milestones. So striking were there bouts that the Haryana government has already announced Rs. 25 lac to each.
Akhil Kumar’s sensible statements, body language and his stated and proved eagerness to perform caught the sports scribes on a wonderful mood.
Saina Newal, just 18, but was there nearly in the semis of the badminton singles, did not blast anyone for her failure to cross the bar at the quarterfinals – except herself.
Bindra down to Saina surely are faces of new generation, of new genre of star sports. The mean business, disinterested in useless things. Strictly speaking they are shining stars worth emulating by the others.
For the first time in Olympic sports coverage, positive reports overwhelm. Since these performers exudes positivism and appear genuine in their effort and their views expressed in public are logic laden, for the first time from Olympics arenas our public are getting right stuff from the reporters.
For long time the media lost in the hockey mess. For instance, there were five boxers in 1992 at the Barcelona Olympics. But the media centered around hockey, as it is obsessed with a mindset that hockey alone can bring medals.
Indian hockey played one of the worst Olympics there, but not averse to churn out negativities. Defeated players planted all sorts of allegations, true or contrived, to shift the blame. Poor coach Balkrishen was dumb bounded on what happened. Even after returning the coach was sacked, the captain suspended and all sorts of negative things went on and on.
Even at Athens four years ago, we read less about our hockey teams exploits on the field rather their outside manoevres got blown up. Prabhjot Singh castigated the chief coach, Dhanraj kept weeping before every camera and what not.
It’s not losing but the manner and the illogical personal vendetta that were churned out as reasons, has cast a negativism on hockey. Since the players, management and coaching staff were vying with each other to find a scapegoat, media thrived merrily, and hardly worked on meaningful analysis. Because, its plate was full with sensational things.
As a genuine sports lover, one is able enjoy the Olympics this time, as there are no tear-shedders, loose talkers, mud-slingers at Beijing. But only genuine sportspersons without a history bag, are there; they are there to make history on their own.
Our sportspersons in Beijing talk with maturity whether they win or lose. A perfect sporting atmosphere exist and it reflects in what we read daily in the newspapers and see on the screen.
In this perspective, hockey will certainly bounce back to Olympic theatre, but will it shed its theatrics, is a million dollar question.
If hockey has to capture the imagination of the present generation, which is aspiring and professional and very rich, the sports has to ooze positivism, irrespective of winning or losing. Insofar as its image is concerned, winning or losing is not going to count except how you conduct yourself on those occasions.
I hope our hockey players and administrators watch these sports persons and observe their immaculate behaviour.