Mofussil Medallists
It is interesting to note that the biggest proportion of sportspersons in the Indian contingent is from Haryana. With an estimated population of 30 million, 21 per cent were from Haryana, writes Kiran Karnik
The most in-demand job now: a ticket collector’s position in the Railways. First, it was the legendary and most popular captain of India’s cricket team, M.S. Dhoni, and now it is Swapnil Kusale, Olympic medal winner. For both, the route to success and fame passed through a job as ticket collector. Maybe it was this track within the Railway network which somehow contributed to their reaching destinations, seemingly so far away for a youngster from small-town Ranchi or a village boy from near Kolhapur in Maharashtra.
Is there something about this job that hones people’s skills and propels them forward? The sharp eye that spots the ticketless amongst hundreds may have contributed to Swapnil’s putting a bullet in the bullseye frequently enough to win an Olympic medal. Equally, it may be the cause of Dhoni spotting that faint edge – or the ball’s trajectory for a LBW – as accurately as the DRS ultra-edge or Hawkeye camera. Hundreds of hours of walking in a moving train and dealing with often-irate passengers must have taught them the ability of staying balanced, being patient and calm (little wonder that Dhoni is famous as Captain Cool): critical factors in their sporting success.
Manu Bhaker, trail-blazing winner of two medals in these Games, exemplifies the capabilities, grit, and self-confidence of today’s young Indian women. Her achievements and gloriously joyous smile (reminiscent, for oldies, of Renuka Shahane’s thousand-watt smile in Surabhi, on Doordarshan of yore) have made her the heartthrob of India. Hailing from Jhajjar, a small town in Haryana, she has broken the shackles of a patriarchal society, once dominated by women-constraining Khap panchayats. Interestingly, Swapnil’s mother is a Panchayat President! Sarobjit Singh, Manu’s co-medallist as team-mate, also has his origins in a village (near Ambala, Haryana).
With encouragement from the faculty at top-notch Lady Sriram College, Delhi, Manu excelled in a variety of sports, becoming a Commonwealth Games gold medallist at the age of 16. In both cases, apart from coaches, credit must be given to parents who supported and encouraged them to pursue their passion, at a time when only engineering and medicine degrees are considered the route to success.
If 22-years-young Manu is India’s star, here is another noteworthy Olympian. Hair tousled, a casual white T-shirt (a la Rahul Gandhi), and relaxed, Yousuf Dikec – retired from the Turkish Gendarmerie – looked like another spectator strolling in after an all-night Parisian party. Most would have been surprised to see him amble nonchalantly to the designated spot with no special equipment and paraphernalia (unlike other contestants), and shoot with a hand in the pocket – and win a silver medal! Stories have it that after shooting, rather than the podium, he was interested in finding a smoking area. The 52 year not-so-young-Turk might well compete with our Captain Cool, possibly as Daddy Cool, even Grandpa Cool.
As a sidelight, it is interesting to note that the biggest proportion of sportspersons in the Indian contingent is from Haryana. With an estimated population of 30 million (just over two per cent of the country), 21 per cent were from Haryana. About 16 per cent (the second largest) were from similarly-sized Punjab. Thus, the under-five per cent population of these two states accounted for 37 per cent of Indian Olympians. Is it sports facilities, nutrition, encouragement, financial support, socio-cultural environment, or other factors? Something to ponder over, especially for other states.
