India may now concentrate on only three or four sports that can guarantee the country medals at the quadrennial games like Olympics. Shooting, despite the misses in Rio, and badminton figure in the medal sports listed by the Sports Authority of India (SAI). Wrestling and boxing may be included, but only after they show effort good enough to match world standards. "If Japan, Cuba, Uzbekistan and Korea can win medals by concentrating on two or three sports, we too can," a source said.
The line of thought differs drastically from the eight or nine sports identified for special attention after the London Olympics. With many athletes from this list - which included archery, athletics and weightlifting - failing to make a mark in Rio, SAI officials feel it is best sports and games are graded and treated accordingly.
Besides medal-winning disciplines, SAI has divided sport into two other categories: one to be pursued for excellence, the other for participation. Two factors have gone into creating the list: One is how India measures up against global competition; and two, the talent base, grassroots and junior programme in the sport.
Athletes in medal sports will get the best of facilities and competitive exposure, besides, of course, the funds from the Target Olympic Podium scheme as a top-up. Those in the second and third categories will also be part of the camp and exposure routines, but to an appreciably lesser extent. They will not get any TOP funding, the source said.
"Athletes in the second category will be expected to pursue excellence, reaching the semi-finals, quarterfinals or the final rounds of their events. We have pushed archery to the second rung as we feel that, despite many opportunities, they have not been able to perform at the highest level," the source said. "In the third category, we only expect athletes to participate in large numbers. Gymnastics figures in this group despite Dipa Karmakar's heroics at Rio as we know that unearthing good talent in this sport is not going to be easy."
All three categories will be backed by comprehensive sport science experts with focus on physical fitness and mental strength. Hiring of coaches, too, will undergo a big change. "We will avoid Russians as the country has been hit by allegations of doping. We will also avoid those from the former Soviet Bloc. Exceptions can be made for coaches with an unblemished record. Coaches will be hired after thorough background checks and a strict performance appraisal system. Currently, federations have a huge say in the hiring of a coach. Henceforth, SAI will go beyond recommendations from sports federations which will serve as just one of the inputs. These coaches will also have to take active part in the indigenous coaches development programme," the source says.
These points will be discussed further in various forums, including those to be anchored by the task force which the central government aims to form to chart a roadmap for Olympics. "The current plan, with small tweaks in the system, can help India garner around 15-20 medals at the Games," said the source.
