Betting on identity

Posted: 2008-08-24 23:06:38+05:30 IST
Updated: Aug 24, 2008 at 2306 hrs IST

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: in general contribute to the evocation of a certain romance that is still very much alive in rural and suburban India.

Another reason why Indians should focus on these sports, giving visually attractive routines like the sprints a miss, is because North Eastern states, a most neglected yet supremely talented cluster, can easily excel in them. It was only a few years earlier that we had boxers like N Dingko Singh, a Manipuri who has done much to shift our focus to the North East. The swift reflexes of the Cubans and their superior physical agility, which resulted in Emilio Correa getting the better of our own Vijender Kumar, are all present in abundance in our North East sportspersons. The only thing lacking is a systematic harnessing of their talent. With Beijing having demonstrated what boxers and wrestlers can do to unite India, it is time our policymakers came to terms with the fact that sport, the real opiate of the masses, offers opportunities for winning laurels on the international stage. With systematic planning and a sprinkling of corporate support, boxing and wrestling can soon become the cradles that will help convert India into a successful Olympic sporting nation....