Youth Olympics In China: Indian Sportspersons Score
Youth Olympics In China: Indian Sportspersons Score
The Youth Olympic Games are being held in Nanjing, China currently. This is an international sporting event organised by the IOC. The game is held once every 4 years in summer and winter events in the same structure as the Olympic Games. The 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games are being held from 16th to 28th August, 2014 and it's so far, so good for the Indian athletes.
Indian youth athletes Maymon Poulose and Mithravarun qualified for Final A-stage in the 110 metres hurdles and discuss throw. Polouse clocked an impressive 13.64 seconds in the hurdles race setting the new national youth record and personal best for India. Discus thrower Mithravarun did not flinch either as he achieved a person best of 54.71 metres in the discus throw.
Poulose has been breaking records since some time now. He broke the 110m boys national record for hurdles at the 11th National Youth Athletics Championship in Bambolim clocking 14.03 seconds and breaking te previous record of 14.06.
But it was Indian weightlifter Ragala Venkat Rahul who bagged India's first medal in what is the second Youth Olympic Games. The weightlifter won a silver medal in the men's 77 kg category at Nanjing in China.
The silver winning weightlifter did not leave much to chance. He lifted 141kgs in the snatch followed by 175 kg in clean and jerk. The total weight he lifted was an impressive 316 kg. He lifted 6 kilograms more than that in the 2013 Asian Youth Games which was also held in Nanjing.
This is a record because this is the first time an Indian sportsperson has won a medal for weightlifting in the Youth Olympic Games. Whether Indian sportspersons will be able to achieve more record wins is going to reveal itself as time passes.
Indians had garnered 8 medals namely 6 silver and 2 bronze in the inaugural Youth Olympics which was held at Singapore in the year 2010. Indian sportspersons have a lot of potential but they receive little state support. Many of the successes have been bittersweet for the Indians because of the heavy price they have had to pay.
Sports is a profession that does not pay very much if the game is not yet strong enough to attract sponsors. Athletes can only hope to earn money while they are in their prime and this profession has one of the earliest retirement ages in the world.
Apart from this, sports is also a hazardous profession because athletes are always at risk for developing physical injuries. The mental stress of having to play for your country and win every time is also no kid's play. The young Indian athletes at the Youth Olympics deserve to be given the support and recognition they need so that they can grow and develop in their respective fields.
The Sports Ministry has an important role to play in nurturing young talent. This is one aspect of Indian sports that must not be ignored. With so many budding sports legends working hard to create a name for themselves and their country, it is the duty of the Sports Ministry to provide them with the support they need during this crucial time.
