China went from winning 16 gold medals in 1992 to 48 in 2008, and Great Britain went from five in 1992 to 29 in 2012. India must take inspiration from China and Great Britain.
Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore speaks to ThePrint's Chairman Shekhar Gupta about how Indian athletes are different from earlier, how the government plans to make India a sporting powerhouse and why he thinks he's still got the skills to take up shooting.
In this excerpt from his book, former CAG Vinod Rai explains how they had pointed faults in the planning of the Commonwealth Games but weren't taken seriously.
The cricket legend has been a member of the Rajya Sabha since 2012, but has rarely attended Parliament, and has never put in a request for a discussion.
A look at some figures behind the dismal medal tallies at 2012 London Olympics and the news is not so bad. It is a story of all-round improvement and progress in some key sports and areas.
Forget comparing it with classics like Hrithik’s Ek Pal Ka Jeena or the slick title track of Dhoom 2, Janaab-e-Aali does not even come close to Ghungroo.
India’s industrial output growth saw a 10-month low in June, with Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growing by mere 1.5% as against 1.9% in May 2025.
Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.
It takes a special kind of blindness to completely ignore the table topper USA and their model of staying at the top. NITI Ayog knows jack about winning medals.
Considering India has won 0 medals in athletics, making it a focus sport while largely ignoring the prevalence of doping in a non medal sport, is another genius finding of this study.
Chinese political system – communist, if I should underline – is not fit for India. Unless, we are a communist state now at the altar of Olympics. Let India grow organically. Don’t extrapolate without thinking.
GB has a great sporting history as well as a history of looking at sport beyond medals. First aim for excellence and joyful participation. Dont turn sport into cheerless pursuit of numbers. This is not your GDP calculation where you can shift goalposts and lie.
50 in 2024. Not unless you are juicing your athletes.
Support systems and coaches and athletes. Medals may or may not come. Also don’t be presumptuous in assuming others are sitting idle while India goes from 2 to 50. It’s hardwork, not an Excel sheet.
Certainly, boxing should be one of the focus sports. We have a greater chance in boxing than athletics (track). For women, weightlifting seems to present a good chance.
It takes a special kind of blindness to completely ignore the table topper USA and their model of staying at the top. NITI Ayog knows jack about winning medals.
Considering India has won 0 medals in athletics, making it a focus sport while largely ignoring the prevalence of doping in a non medal sport, is another genius finding of this study.
Chinese political system – communist, if I should underline – is not fit for India. Unless, we are a communist state now at the altar of Olympics. Let India grow organically. Don’t extrapolate without thinking.
GB has a great sporting history as well as a history of looking at sport beyond medals. First aim for excellence and joyful participation. Dont turn sport into cheerless pursuit of numbers. This is not your GDP calculation where you can shift goalposts and lie.
50 in 2024. Not unless you are juicing your athletes.
Support systems and coaches and athletes. Medals may or may not come. Also don’t be presumptuous in assuming others are sitting idle while India goes from 2 to 50. It’s hardwork, not an Excel sheet.
Certainly, boxing should be one of the focus sports. We have a greater chance in boxing than athletics (track). For women, weightlifting seems to present a good chance.