New Delhi: What qualifies a country as a “sports nation”? Does the dominance of one area or one sport make the country a true sporting favourite?
While we can reflect and enter into long debates, let’s agree that the athletic ability showcased on global platforms defines a nation’s capabilities to a large extent.
Looking at history, Australia, considered a sporting powerhouse, has come a long way to become one. Australia’s leanness was evident at the 1976 Montreal Olympics when the country failed to win a single gold medal and had only 5 medals (one silver and four bronze) to its active. Introspective after its dismal performance at the quadrennial event, Australia vowed to come back stronger and established the Australian Institute of Sport in 1981 to prepare the next generation of athletes.
Even a country like China, whose pedigree of Olympic participation is less than nations like the United Kingdom (England) or India, sees its dominance demonstrated at the global sporting event. In 2022, China finished first at the Summer Olympics once, finished second three times and third place twice in 11 total Olympic appearances.
India has achieved a lot in sport in the 75 years since independence – from Olympic gold medals in hockey to World Cup victories in cricket to individual excellence. So what should be the way forward for the country of 136 million to make it a top sporting nation?
The country’s best sports minds gather at the ABP Network’s ‘Wild Stone Presents Ideas From India’ Summit to discuss and share their views on what makes India a sports nation and what’s next.
the The first edition of the two-day summit will take place in Mumbai on March 25-26.
The conversation on ‘The Sporting Nation’ will see hockey legend Zafar Iqbal, cricketer great Kapil Dev and tennis champion Leander Paes discuss ‘We are the champions: patience, perseverance, practice’.
Not just sports, the ABP Network’s Ideas of India Summit will bring together the best minds from various other fields to talk about India’s journey so far and share their vision for the future.
Tune in to ABP Network on March 25-26 to catch a glimpse of the best minds talking about their vision for India and the next steps that can be taken.
