Asian Games 2023: This could be India’s Altius moment

A BIT OF HISTORY
Writing in 1959, Anthony de Mello, the main organiser of the 1951 Asiad, recounted the first opening ceremony in words that merit repetition. “What was the greatest moment in Indian sport? There was never an occasion to beat that of March 4th, 1951. On that historic day for the sport of India—indeed for the sport of Asia, even the world — the first Asian Games were opened…It was Asia marching ever nearer to the great Olympic ideal of ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’—faster, higher, stronger…. India—the ‘Big Brother of Asia’—had given the lead in this the finest sporting venture of the Orient.”

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Just four years after independence, with hundreds of thousands of partition refugees still camping in the environs of Delhi, India’s capital put together the first truly pan-Asian sporting event. It was a time of hope, of idealism. It is not too difficult to see why an Indian watching the parade of nations marching under the shadow of the majestic ramparts of Delhi’s Purana Qila, the Old Fort, would begin fancying his or her country as the new ‘Big Brother’ of Asia.

Since then, the Games have evolved and are perhaps the second-best multidiscipline event in the world, second only to the Olympics. An Asian Games podium finish, in some sports at least, is as important as an Olympic or World Championships medal.

THE HANGZHOU TEST
For India, the Hangzhou Games can prove that the country is on track to winning medals in multiple disciplines and after years of frustration and disappointment, it is starting to put systems and structures in place. There has been a certain ‘hunger’ on show on the part of the Indians in these Games already.

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The volleyball team, which will play Japan later today, has already beaten the 2018 silver and bronze medallists on way to topping the group. Korea, ranked 27, and Chinese Taipei, ranked 43, were taken down by the 73-ranked Indians. We have also seen the football team, which travelled in the most abnormal circumstances, mount a fight against China in the first half and win against Bangladesh in the second match. With a good effort against Myanmar, they can make the last 16.

MEDAL COUNT
While the host broadcaster has run a campaign claiming India could win more than 100 medals in Hangzhou, touching or even crossing the 2018 medal count of 70 seems realistic. Twenty-plus gold medals look possible with men’s and women’s cricket expected to add to the tally. The fact that the BCCI has sent its best women’s team to China is also a telling statement. It shows cricket’s most powerful body is now taking multi-discipline events seriously and this perception helps enormously in cricket’s efforts to making it back to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

Athletics, shooting and boxing are expected to boost the medals tally and players like Murali Sreeshankar (long jump), Rudrankksh Patil (shooting) and not to forget Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty (badminton) can well put up personal best efforts. Having recently won wrestling World Championships bronze, Antim Panghal has already shown that she is capable of winning at the Asiad too.

A MULTI-SPORTING INDIA
When he missed out on a medal by the tiniest of margins at Rio Olympics in 2016, Abhinav Bindra said with a lot of sarcasm, “Now you will celebrate me bigger. We in India love fourth place finishes. Perhaps they are more celebrated than even a gold medal.”

Bindra, the hardest task master and perfectionist, had yet again hit bull’s eye. For the longest time Indians didn’t accept this and were satisfied with having performed decently. Not anymore. This is an India which wants to be on the podium.

Asian Games 2023 is a stepping stone for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It is a statement that India will not wake up every four years anymore and lament about the lack of infrastructure. Rather, as Bindra said, “The Olympics don’t come every four years. They come everyday.” While it may not be 100 medals just yet, it could well be India’s best Asian Games ever