QUE: Analyze the photograph given below and write your creative observations in detail. (Approximately 150 words)
May 31, 2026

- The Indian jersey and the Olympic medal seen in the above picture are the dream of every sports lover in the country. Turning this very dream into reality and showcasing her talent, Ms. Manu Bhaker made the entire nation proud by becoming the first Indian female athlete to win two bronze medals in a single Olympics at the Paris Olympics 2024. This also points to the increasing contribution of women in India’s Olympic medal list.
- Recently, the Olympic Games were organized in Paris, France. Where competitions take place among the world’s best athletes, and every sportsman puts in all their effort to bring glory to their country. These games are not just sports, but also an opportunity to establish national pride. However, achieving a podium finish is by no means easy. In such a scenario, for developing countries like India, performing outstandingly in these Olympic Games is akin to climbing a steep and arduous hill.
- At present, a lot of improvement has been seen in India’s sports ecosystem, but there is still room for further improvement. For instance, there is a need to put more emphasis on developing sports infrastructure at the grassroots level. Identifying and nurturing talent from an early age across various sporting disciplines can help build a strong foundation. Building world-class training facilities and providing athletes with the best coaching and support systems is crucial. This can include psychological support, nutrition, and injury management.
- In India, factors such as limited talent identification, lack of infrastructure and resources required to train athletes effectively, limited access to training facilities, coaching capabilities, and financial support, absence of a robust sports culture and media encouragement for sports other than cricket, along with corruption and unaccountable administrations, frequently create obstacles in the development of athletes. Through schemes like the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), efforts are being made today to improve the sports infrastructure and support athletes.
- The government should provide more structured and substantial funding for Olympic sports. This includes direct support to athletes, as well as investment in coaching and international exposure. India should aim to triple the size of its athlete contingent for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which is necessary to compete better with countries like the US and Japan, which field over 600 and 400 athletes respectively. This increase will naturally lead to more medals. Instead of focusing entirely on the 2036 bidding process, India should Improving the medal tally in the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics and establishing India as an Olympic sporting nation beyond that should be the priority. India’s poor performance in the Paris Olympics provides an opportunity for serious introspection and learning from mistakes.
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