India And The Olympics

As India gears up for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the country will focus once again on the moments of glory we have had on the largest sports arena in the world, featuring such stalwarts as Abhinav Bindra, Mary Kom and PV Sindhu. But it will also be time to ask again the question we ask ourselves every four years: why does a country of a billion plus have so little to show for itself at the Olympics?Dreams of a Billion gives the reader an inside view of what goes on backstage in the Indian Olympics world, alongside a quick history of how India has fared at the Olympics over the past century, and a look at how the Indian Olympics world has changed in the last decade. Which brings us to the question: How good is India's preparation for Tokyo 2020? Can Tokyo be the gamechanger Indian sport wants it to be and hopes it will be?

In most accounts of Olympic history across the world, India's Olympic journey is a mere footnote. This book is a corrective. Drawing on newly available and hitherto unused archival sources, it demonstrates that India was an important strategic outpost in the Olympic movement that started as a global phenomenon at the turn of the twentieth century. Among the questions the authors answer are: When and how did the Olympic ideology take root in India? Who were the early players and why did they appropriate Olympic sport to further their political ambitions? What explains India's eight consecutive gold medals in Olympic men’s hockey between 1928 and 1956 and what altered the situation drastically, so much so that the team failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Games? India and the Olympics also explores why the Indian elite became obsessed with the Olympic ideal at the turn of the twentieth century and how this obsession relates to India's quest for a national and international identity. It conclusively validates the contention that the essence of Olympism does not reside in medals won, records broken or television rights sold as ends in themselves. Particularly for India, the Olympic movement, including the relevant records and statistics, is important because it provides a unique prism to understand the complex evolution of modern Indian society.

'A pioneering and long-awaited book ... a delightful read' -Hindustan Times 'The first detailed history of India's Olympic experience ... a valuable addition to contemporary knowledge'-India Today When and how did the Olympic movement take root in India? Who were the early players and why did they appropriate Olympic sport to further their political ambitions? In most accounts of Olympic history across the world, India's Olympic journey is a mere footnote. Olympics: The India Story sets that right. Drawing on previously unused archival sources, it demonstrates that India was an important strategic outpost in the Olympic family. It explores why the Indian elite became obsessed with the Olympic ideal at the turn of the twentieth century and how this relates to India's quest for a meaningful role on the international stage. First published to critical acclaim in 2008, this revised edition includes a new, incisive chapter on India's medal prospects at the London Olympics, thus bringing India's Olympic story up-to-date.

"This book will inspire the younger generation to be like our sporting heroes by helping them take up sports and make it a daily part of their life." Sakshi Malik, Bronze Medallist, Rio 2016 India at the Olympics celebrates 100 years of Indian athletes' participation in the world's biggest sporting event. Packed with rare images and colourful illustrations, this unique book: Traces the incredible history of the Olympics from the time of the Ancient Greek Olympics to its present, modern-day avatar Focuses on India's 100-year participation - its achievements and records Includes profiles of India's biggest sporting legends such as Dhyan Chand, PT Usha, Karnam Malleswari, Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Mary Kom, Abhinav Bindra and Leander Paes among others. A visual treat for sports enthusiasts of all ages!

'At A Time When Historians Around The World Are Increasingly Recognizing Global Stories Of Olympism As Crucial To Understanding The Working Of Societies, There Has Been No Detailed History Of India'S Olympic Experience. This Is A Glaring Anomaly For A Country That Became The First Colonized Nation To Join The Olympic Movement, One That Dazzled The World With Its Early Hockey Wins And One Whose Olympic History Contains Within Its Folds Hitherto Unknown Chapters Of The Development Of Indian Nationalism And Identity&This Monograph Is Unique Because It Is Built On As Yet Virgin Archive Of Indian History. For The First Time We Have Unlimited Access To The Hitherto Inaccessible 'Official' Archive Of The International Olympic Committee At The Ioc Museum In Lausanne, Switzerland.'

India’s exhilarating performance at the Tokyo Olympics provides us with much room for optimism across various disciplines. The book has focused on this performance by our star sportspersons, the existing sporting infrastructure, the outstanding performance of the Games and how India should look at strengthening is existing institutions and explore new disciplines to deliver consistent results at the pantheon of sports, the Olympics. With the right tweaking and strategies, we can surely ensure that India enters into the annals of sporting powerhouses and performs consistently well at the Olympics. I am sure the book would be useful for sports buffs, sport administrators, sportspersons and the private sector which is involved in sports development.

As India gears up for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the country will focus once again on the moments of glory we've had on the world's largest sports arena, featuring such stalwarts as Abhinav Bindra, Mary Kom and P.V. Sindhu. But it will also be time to ask again the question we ask ourselves every four years: why does a country of a billion plus have so little to show for itself at the Olympics? Dreams of a Billion gives the reader an inside view of what goes on backstage in the Indian Olympics world alongside a quick history of how India has fared at the Olympics over the past century and a look at how the Indian Olympics world has changed in the last decade. Which brings us to the question: How good is India's preparation for Tokyo 2020? Can Tokyo be the game changer Indian sport wants it to be and hopes it will be?