Today, August 29th, marks National Sports Day—and there's no better way to commemorate it than by examining India's ongoing journey toward the LA Olympics. While fans experience a rollercoaster of emotions watching the performances, imagine the journey for the sportspersons who persist despite administrative lapses and official apathy.
We are re in that familiar phase of the Olympic cycle: the surge from Paris 2024 has settled, while momentum for LA 2028 has yet to build. Meanwhile, competitions continue in relative quiet, away from the spotlight.
Here is a rundown of Indian sports in the last few months - the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
The Neeraj Chopra Phenomenon
When a second-place finish at the Diamond League finale barely registers as news, you know an athlete has truly transcended expectations. He has breached the 90m mark and maintained a remarkable four-year streak of top-two finishes globally. But perhaps his greatest achievement this year was launching the Neeraj Chopra Classic - tournament that could reshape India's athletics landscape. Now comes the real test: can our sporting administration build on his foundation?
Athletics
Indian athletics is showing visible progress with National records tumbling frequently. Yet we remain decades behind in most events. The gap is closing, but slowly - progress that demands patience.
Football
Indian football presents a study in contrasts. The women's team has qualified for the next Asian Cup despite all the off-field challenges. Meanwhile, the men's team appears to be in free fall, compounded by uncertainty around the Indian Super League's future. With no clear path forward, the free fall looks set to continue.
Our Shooters and Archers continue their stellar run at World Cups, consistently bringing home medals and breaking records. Yet these performances need to translate into Olympic success.
The inaugural Rugby Premier League marked an important milestone for a relatively nascent sport. While rugby's Olympic prospects remain distant, any step toward professionalization needs to be applauded.
Looking Ahead
Away from the cameras and commentary, Indian sports continues its relentless march forward. The LA 2028 event lineup is set, but qualification pathways are yet to announced. But the sporting journey continues.
Until next time.
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