For a country the size of India, returning from the Paris Olympics without a gold medal, just one silver and couple of bronze medals, is heartbreaking and disappointing. If Ireland , with one sixth the population of Delhi and St Lucia with one fourth the population of Malad suburb, can win gold medals why can't we? What ails our country? What we lack is a strong sports culture which can produce many Neeraj Chopras and Manu Bhakers. And the sports culture must take root from the primary school level. We must award grades not marks. Schools must employ several coaches having a diploma in sports coaching. The coaches must have represented the state/country or 1st division clubs. Sports associations must start short-term diplomas in sports coaching. The Centre and State must form committees and award sizeable grants to schools excelling in sports, for creating sports infrastructure and employing good coaches. Such schools may be declared as schools of sports excellence. These schools may also enroll students excelling in sports, from nearby catchment areas, offering full freeships funded by the Centre/state. This, I believe will foster a sports culture, a foundation on which to build on.
