Indian Sports and Entertainment Industry

[AkshaySG]

Arjun misses a medal by a whisker, Finishes 4th in Mens Air 10 Mr rifle

Same script as many a Indian Olympic dissappointments, Staying in medal range throughout 80% of the event and the painfully dropping just short at the end.

Manu B and Sarabjot still have a chance at Bronze but again painfully missed the Gold Medal match (and a guaranteed silver) by 1 point

[AkshaySG]

As we become better at basic infrastructure (courts, equipment, training facilities, financial support etc) for our athletes the next item has to be a grassroot level investment in sports psychology and mental fortitude

It cannot be a coincidence that again and again our athletes who perform exceptional at World Cups/Championships beating China, KOR etc fall short in Olympics.

Cannot happen every time that we lead 80% of the way and then when it matters can't make it count.

Its not just an athlete/Olympics thing, The cricket teams both male and female have lost more finals in the last 10 years than one can even count, Most of them after demolishing the opposition throughout the group/qualifying stages.

[AkshaySG]

Women's archery team flatters to decieve once again , Downed 6-0 against Ned in QF
https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/resu ... nl000200--

Kaur Bhajan did well but both of Deepika and Ankita had quite poor showings

Men's team follows suit, Loses 6-2 to Turkey in QF
Bunch of 7s and 8s when the Turkish were consistently hitting 9s

[A Deshmukh]

Archery has been a disappointment.
need a reset.
same team members playing their 4th Olympics is a red flag.
India is a land of archery. we need to figure out to get better talent.

[AkshaySG]

As we become better at basic infrastructure (courts, equipment, training facilities, financial support etc) for our athletes the next item has to be a grassroot level investment in sports psychology and mental fortitude

It cannot be a coincidence that again and again our athletes who perform exceptional at World Cups/Championships beating China, KOR etc fall short in Olympics.

Cannot happen every time that we lead 80% of the way and then when it matters can't make it count.

Its not just an athlete/Olympics thing, The cricket teams both male and female have lost more finals in the last 10 years than one can even count, Most of them after demolishing the opposition throughout the group/qualifying stages.

Here is a list of our just misses/4th place finishes in the last few Olympics

Arjun Babuta (Paris 2024)
Women's Hockey (Tokyo 2020)
Aditi Ashok (Tokyo 2020)
Dipa Karmakar (Rio 2016)
Abhinav Bindra (Rio 2016)
Mirza & Bopanna (Rio 2016)
Joydeep Karmakar (London 2012)
Kunjarani Devi (Athens 2004)
Paes & Bhupathi (Athens 2004)

Credits :https://x.com/divakar_ks/status/1817884890508996916

[Amber G.]

Meanwhile, after Math and Physics -- Chemistry Olympiad ..
We are delighted to announce that India won 1 GOLD, 2 SILVER & 1 BRONZE at 56th International Chemistry Olympiad (#IChO2024) held at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from Jul 21 to 30,2024.

Gold - Devesh (Jalgaon,MH), Silver -Avaneesh (Kota,RJ), Harshin (Hyderabad,Tel), Bronze - Kashyap (Mumbai,MH)

[Vayutuvan]

@AkshaySG mahashay, Could you please edit your post and remove the emojis? They are being displayed as giant images in my browser. Thanks.

[Amber G.]

I am somewhat disappointed that neither in this team nor in the IMO team, there is even one female.

In these olympiad teams, selection does not depend on OBC/ST/sex/quota etc.

[Vayutuvan]

My point is not about sex quota. It is more to do with women are not getting attracted to Math/Physics/Chem and Engg/CS even now. They in no way require quotas. This is Western Universalism patriarchy. I am sure you know about Sophie Germaine.

[Najunamar]

A few years ago there was a girl who won a gold in Physics Olympiad and also did well in JEE ( found it, oops it was in 2010). Yes, it has been a long time coming…

[Ashokk]

Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh win bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at Paris Olympics.

Manu Bhaker becomes first Indian after independence to claim two medals in a single Olympics, having already won the women's 10m air pistol bronze.

[sum]

Archery seems to have been the absolute deception over all these 5-6 past games.

Somehow, any sort of mental conditioning etc. doesn't seem to be helping( i remember there being lot of focus on this since the last 3-4 editions) and we manage to wilt away every single time after rampaging through all non-Olympic events

[Suraj]

Manu Bhaker picks up her second medal - another bronze in mixed team 10m air pistol with Sarabjot Singh . She’s carrying the shooting team by herself and it’s not even her strongest two events - she has the 25m pistol event left . Hopefully she will win a better medal there .

[hanumadu]

Archery seems to have been the absolute deception over all these 5-6 past games.

Somehow, any sort of mental conditioning etc. doesn't seem to be helping( i remember there being lot of focus on this since the last 3-4 editions) and we manage to wilt away every single time after rampaging through all non-Olympic events

We won all those medals in Compound bow which is not an olympic event. Olympics has only Recurve which we are not good at, yet.

[KL Dubey]

FYI, good wiki page tracking every Indian athlete (categorized by discipline/sport) at the 2024 OIympix:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_at_ ... r_Olympics

We are present in 16 disciplines. Things seem to be going OK so far, I hope we will cross 10+ medals this time compared to 7 last time.

It's curtains in Swimming (expected) and Tennis (I expected better).

[KL Dubey]

Archery seems to have been the absolute deception over all these 5-6 past games.

Somehow, any sort of mental conditioning etc. doesn't seem to be helping( i remember there being lot of focus on this since the last 3-4 editions) and we manage to wilt away every single time after rampaging through all non-Olympic events

We won all those medals in Compound bow which is not an olympic event. Olympics has only Recurve which we are not good at, yet.

Still in contention/yet to start in 6 out of 9 archery events, let's see.

[Vayutuvan]

In these olympiad teams, selection does not depend on OBC/ST/sex/quota etc.

By the way, just so that you know where I stand on the reservation system in Bharat.

I do believe that some limited amount of reservations should be there for socially backward classes with a sunset clause. Same with EBC.

FYI, that doesn't mean that I am a left liberal elitist. Far from it.

[sum]

FYI, good wiki page tracking every Indian athlete (categorized by discipline/sport) at the 2024 OIympix:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_at_ ... r_Olympics

We are present in 16 disciplines. Things seem to be going OK so far, I hope we will cross 10+ medals this time compared to 7 last time.

It's curtains in Swimming (expected) and Tennis (I expected better).

Just curious which are the realistic chances to reach 10+ this time?

[bharathp]

Just curious which are the realistic chances to reach 10+ this time?

Javelin (Neeraj chopra) high probable
Badminton -3 realistic chances 2 (less probable on pv Sindhu, more on lakshya sen he just beat world #3, and mens doubles also seeded in top 3 I think)
Women boxing (lovlina bohorgain, nikhat zareen)
Women weightlifting (mirabai chanu)
Men's hockey
Archery maybe one or two more (one mens and one women's both are in round of 16)
Shooting still has a few more events one includes many bhaker
Wrestling

Weak chances but still probable:
Sreeja akula playing really well table tennis (I think we have two Indians in top 16 now)

Upper bound: 12-14
Lower bound:.. should be atleast 6 anything less would be very disappointing

[A Deshmukh]

Hockey: we still have to play Belgium and Australia, two very strong teams in our group. We would be lucky to reach semis.
Boxing: not sure if our ladies come up against trans-women/men, who are allowed in this Olympics. if so, then it will be tough.
Badminton: Lakshya Sen looks in good form. tragically will have to fight Prannoy in the next round. Doubles of RankiReddy +ChiragShetty are in superb form. hope we get two medals - would love a gold here.

[bharathp]

Hockey: we still have to play Belgium and Australia, two very strong teams in our group. We would be lucky to reach semis.
-- India already qualifies for Quarters - their games against Aus and Belgium wont matter for now, but would place them to meet someone from the other group. possible opponenets:
Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, and Spain.
so long as they dont meet netherlands or Germany I estimate the chances against Gb and Spain are better...

Boxing: not sure if our ladies come up against trans-women/men, who are allowed in this Olympics. if so, then it will be tough.
Badminton: Lakshya Sen looks in good form. tragically will have to fight Prannoy in the next round. Doubles of RankiReddy +ChiragShetty are in superb form. hope we get two medals - would love a gold here. - satwik and Chirag are currently #1 - am also expecting a gold there.. hope for the best. a coconut from me is on the table at my local temple

[Amber G.]

Meanwhile: How many Indian-American parents can identify with this:

“To her parents, table tennis was an opportunity to enhance her college applications. … Though she lost her first match, her parents declared it a resounding victory. ‘They’re like, OK, you got the #Olympics, you got that on your college apps and now you can focus on studies.’”

[Mukesh.Kumar]

India wins another Bronze.

Paris Olympic Games 2024, Day 6 Live Updates: Shooter Swapnil Kusale Wins Bronze, Takes India's Medal Tally To 3

[Suraj]

Nikhat is out . Sat-Chi are also out . Not going too well .

[A Deshmukh]

Sat-Chi were playing so good....i was hoping a gold from them.

[AkshaySG]

3 more medal hopes extinguished

Sift Kaur Samra
Nikhat Zareen
Satwik & Chirag

Some poor luck in seeding and facing World 1s etc but that's what the Olympics is about so can't complain much

[AkshaySG]

Chinese long term strategy in Olympics is something to behold honestly.

They started with sports they were already good/decent at and things where they could maximize opportunities for Gold in a home Olympics in 08.

Then built the domestic & youth level Infra to the point that certain sports are guaranteed golds for them and the only question is which Chinese would win.

Now with expansion and progress they are setting World Records in events where the "West" would usually dominate like swimming
https://x.com/WorldAquatics/status/1818750418496672239

The whole spiel of Asian athletes being less suited to physical sports and events has gone for a toss these last few games.

And in some ways what Korea and Japan are doing is even more impressive since they don't have the massive population of talent pool that China has and yet still dominating.

[S_Madhukar]

East Asians are storming gymnastics as well... they are no longer the skinny types, on the single bar guys doing twists like the ones you see in diving ! The Chinese guy slipped twice and the Japanese won gold in this case. They have gotten into snowboarding etc as well which was typically North European type dominated.

https://youtu.be/D-yvZ8CARSg?si=6v_KYacHW9bBJufF

We just don't have proper grounds, gyms and fitness facilities in our schools. Only some individual gems. There's a short with Sunil Chhetri lamenting that a talented guy from some remote corner won't even know he is world class and will promptly join a call center for economic sustenance

Our cricket mania gives false hopes. And my heart cries a little every time a new cricket stadium is built somewhere. We need more multi-purpose stadia, swimming pools and courts


We took the Soviet model and did nothing to build the Soviet style fit India man/woman. For this to have changed we needed babus and netas who were sports/fitness conscious but even our cops are pot bellied types. Where will ordinary folks find the inspiration? May be if we can get some angry young men/women into boxing/wrestling instead of protesting !

Or like that ex-sergeant from Turkey who won silver in the pistol with minimal fuss , let us encourage forces to become Olympians ! ( A Col Rajyavardhan Rathore comes to mind!)

[AkshaySG]

PV Sindhu Loses her Pre QF as well

4 high medal hopes dashed in 1 day

[Supratik]

Sindhu is at the end of her career. She was injured after the end of CWG 2022 and her career declined. This is common with top badminton players. The only disappointment was in doubles.

We are improving in sports. Remember we started from zero. We went through 3 olympics without a single medal. The state of sports like everything else in socialist India was abysmal. There were instances when sportsmen would abscond on foreign trips. Those of us who have lived in socialist India know very well how bad things were. Everything had to be built from scratch.

We have come 4th in the recent Asian games with more than 100 medals. Unless you want to implement Chinese style dictatorial system improvement is likely to be incremental.

I am very happy to see so many world class players coming up in different sports. The khelo India games and sports universities will be game changers. Private academies are mushrooming. Focus on the process and the results are going to come.

One thing I would like to see is more focus on sports psychology at a very early stage. I see several prospectove medalists choking. This should be a priority.

[Ankit Desai]

------
I am very happy to see so many world class players coming up in different sports. The khelo India games and sports universities will be game changers. Private academies are mushrooming. Focus on the process and the results are going to come.
----

+1

------
One thing I would like to see is more focus on sports psychology at a very early stage. I see several prospective medalists choking. This should be a priority.

+1

-Ankit

[Suraj]

Today was a pretty bad day for Indian medal tally hopes. At least two solid medal options from the trio of Zareen, the womens 50m 3P pair and Sat-Chi all gone to waste. Both Nikhat Zareen and Sat-Chi are stories of world champions or world #1s unable to adapt tactically.

Sat-Chi in particular blew it from a position of strength, while Nikhat was never in the game. It's also reasonable to assume the former had far better coaching at their disposal - Gopichand and Matthias Boe - and still failed to deliver. There's no excuse - Rankireddy is 23 and should pair up with a younger partner with the future in mind. Chirag is 27, he'll be too old by LA28. Plus they're both high strung players who could use a calming partner.

As for the seeding controversy around Nikhat, that's irrelevant considering how she was tactically outclassed by a fellow world champion. Getting outfoxed like that for all her titles says little about her abilities on the highest stage of all. To win a Olympic title people have gone so far as to do gymnastics with a broken leg.

The kind of will to focus on winning and covering every preparatory base physically and mentally is lacking for most of our sportspeople with the sole exception of Neeraj Chopra - a legend India barely deserves, who inhabits an Olympic/world level no one else has come close to. Chopra has even outdone the greatest javelin thrower - the legendary Jan Zelezny himself - in one measure: he's simultaneously the world, Olympic and continental champion. If he defends his title he will be one of the top 3 greatest javelin throwers ever, alongside Zelezny and Andreas Thorkildsen. Chopra and Thorkildsen are the only javelin throwers to hold world, Olympic and continental titles at the same time.

We'll be lucky to win half a dozen medals. Today was a great day to have gained momentum from 3 by motivating more players to be hungry for a medal and instead they've blown it badly.

[SBajwa]

This Olympics will be another eye opener to start focusing on young and forget the veterans after 1 or 2 games.

NAMO needs to fix Wrestling as it is is a very sorry state with strikes and charges of exploitation and wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar. There is a zero prospect of having a medal in Wrestling.

Olympic authorities are not testing the gender of athletes and are only going by their listed gender on passport., a biological male was allowed to participate on women boxing. Very worrisome. IMHO only who are born with XX are women and XY chromosome are men should be the criteria.

In Hockey.

Belgium 2 India 1 .. hockey. Top 8 go to quarters and then semis and finals.

Thank you Suraj, Supratik, Ankit and others. Please keep posting your analysis

[Vayutuvan]

Meanwhile: How many Indian-American parents can identify with this:

“To her parents, table tennis was an opportunity to enhance her college applications. … Though she lost her first match, her parents declared it a resounding victory. ‘They’re like, OK, you got the #Olympics, you got that on your college apps and now you can focus on studies.’”

[img...]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GTxU--DW8AA ... ame=medium[/img]

It is actually true. What happens to retired Olympics athletes? Medal winners probably get lot of endorsement deals. What about folks who participated and didn't win?

Sure this woman is different. She can focus on studies for sure.

[SBajwa]

Meanwhile: How many Indian-American parents can identify with this:

[img...]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GTxU--DW8AA ... ame=medium[/img]

It is actually true. What happens to retired Olympics athletes? Medal winners probably get lot of endorsement deals. What about folks who participated and didn't win?

Sure this woman is different. She can focus on studies for sure.

Agreed!.In any case most youngsters who get disciplined earlier in their life (Army, Sports, etc) have much success in transitioning into something else later(Sports, Security, broadcasting, entertainment, etc)

[AkshaySG]

Olympic authorities are not testing the gender of athletes and are only going by their listed gender on passport., a biological male was allowed to participate on women boxing. Very worrisome. IMHO only who are born with XX are women and XY chromosome are men should be the criteria.

While there is generally an issue of trans athletes in women's sports and overall of where they fit in sports categories it's a very grey area and each situation needs to be taken case by case

Here in Imane Khalif's case there can be arguments made in either case, She was born a biological female, Has been a biological female throughout, Lives in Algeria where transitioning or any sort of intersex activity is punishable by death and has been competing with a pretty normal record (wins and losses) in the Intl circuit and has gotten knocked out herself plenty of times

On the other hand yes she did test for some XY chromosomes but biology isn't straightforward like that, When you start training, gaining muscle, taking protein, steroids the testosterone levels do start building up and that can have an affect.

Imo unless the athlete has deliberately gone out and tried to get themselves enhanced in any way (doping, testosterone injections, hormonal therapy) etc it shouldn't matter. Plenty of athletes have had biological peculiarities and advantages over their peers

[AkshaySG]

better day till now as compared to yesterday's horror show

Manu Bhakar into the finals of 25M Pistol

IND Def Aus 3-2 in Hockey, First win over Aus in Olympics since Astro turf was introduced 50 years ago

Dhiraj and Ankita into Semis of Archery which is in an hour or so.

--- Update

D&A lose the semi against Korea which was expected the Koreans are exceptionally good however following that up with a very poor showing against US in the Bronze medal match.

Heads down, shooting 7s and losing a bronze medal where we were favored.

[SBajwa]

Good news with Hockey. If we can get into Semis which is very tough then it is anyone's game depending upon your luck.

For me right now this is what it looks like among top 6 right now. Hockey is very competitive as compared.to cricket or other sports. Amazing athletic abilities and speed of the game as compared to when I was playing 30 years ago. I talked with veteran Sardara Singh who informed me that he had never touched alcohol in his life and use to run 5 km 5 days a week while playing(top speed and slow shuffling while running as required in hockey) amazing dedication is needed.

Belgium
Netherlands
Australia
Britain
India
Germany

[Amber G.]

From Physics Olympiads to discussing Physics at the Olympic games! TIFR Centre Director
will be in action tomorrow. Join in at Prithvi Theatre, or catch the action live/recorded on YouTube.

We're celebrating the #OlympicGames tomorrow 11AM @PrithviTheatre. Most sports have things in motion - a very good excuse to bring in some physics! So join @TifrArnab, storyteller of science, as we discuss physics at the Olympics.

https://www.youtube.com/live/lCJf-nKAFMU

[Cyrano]

One man down, Indian hockey team holds off GB and beats them in penalty shoot out !!!!

Closer to a medal, but which one?