I, personally, have all the time felt the Olympic Village as an all-immersive expertise. You don’t really feel the vibes of the Video games in case you don’t dwell on the Olympic village. For 24×7, it’s Olympic stage expertise. Staying in a resort or renting out a spot doesn’t get you a similar expertise. Individuals who keep exterior miss out on the vibes of the Olympic village. The expertise gave me the vitality to compete on the highest stage. Strolling across the Olympic village, you see so many athletes of various nations, completely different sports activities, all of their finest form. The workforce spirit could be very a lot seen there. It’s an incredible combination of tradition because the athletes of the world and others snicker, discuss and practice collectively. It is extremely fascinating to speak to a few of them, hear their life tales and play pleasant matches with them. And when there’s a want, the others are able to assist you. With the proximity to so many different venues, on off days, you possibly can watch different athletes in motion. I watched boxing, swimming and volleyball.
The Video games village has a variety of coaching amenities. In 2004, I keep in mind watching the 100-metre sprinters practising the alternate of baton. In precise competitors, it’s achieved in a flash. However in coaching, you retain seeing them do it repeatedly, in pursuit of perfection. I additionally keep in mind watching Michael Phelps coaching on the Video games village swimming pool.
He was very quick. His coach was pulling him with a rope from the entrance to assist him go sooner. I requested the coach why was he not creating the resistance by pulling Phelps from the again. I bought an fascinating reply. He mentioned that he was making an attempt to get Phelps used to the upper pace and that he was able to attaining that pace, from a psychological perspective.
The camaraderie on the Video games village is fabulous. After dinner, many jokes are shared. Language and bounds are not any bar. All athletes put together their finest for the Video games. Truly, what’s extra necessary is how one manages the thoughts when not competing. One must be in the most effective psychological form, but relaxed. Listening to prime athletes and watching them practice, we too get into that mode. You are feeling that your fears usually are not yours alone. That’s one thing younger athletes must study.
You learn to shoot, dribble, cross and run. However no one teaches you about how you can be relaxed. One must be a pupil all through the life, greedy, observing and absorbing the important thing components. I keep in mind speaking to a world document holder. I used to be telling him how my coronary heart was pumping as if it will come out. He mentioned, “you understand what, I used to be feeling the identical.”
It was very gratifying to work together with the Indian contingent. I used to be strolling by the village, and occurred to stroll into the corridor of the Indian hockey workforce the place they’d their workforce assembly. No one was round. There was a white board, on which the coach makes a drawing and discusses positions. I wrote a motivational stuff on the board. Later, the hockey gamers informed me that they appreciated it.
After I went to Athens, my thoughts was very clear. It was not only for participation. With my background in navy, I used to be decided to win. For a couple of yr and a half, I had remained within the top-3 of the world and was dominant at occasions. My preparation was nice and regardless of a comparatively dangerous second spherical, I managed to make the ultimate. I used to be fifth in qualification and I may hearth my strategy to the second place. In these days, you might keep in mind that the qualification rating counted within the closing. Profitable the silver medal was a way of reduction and I used to be completely happy that I may make the nation proud.
The accolades I acquired have been one thing I by no means imagined, {that a} sport apart from cricket may seize the creativeness of the whole nation. The love and affection of the individuals was humbling. It was good for the subsequent technology to start out making ready to win. That medal, many felt, broke the glass ceiling.
The others felt, we are able to do it too. Abhinav Bindra, who received the gold within the subsequent Olympics in Beijing, has additionally acknowledged this. It gave a way of perception to everybody.
From one, we bought to 3 medals, after which to 6 and 7. It’s certain to extend.
As a former Sports activities Minister of the nation, and the present Sports activities Minister of Rajasthan, I really feel that we needs to be speaking in regards to the 2036 Olympics. Begin making ready for it by grooming the ten and 12-year-olds. That’s the strategy to proceed constructing on our achievements.
Total, the quantity of sources and assist has elevated loads, not simply when it comes to materials, but additionally when it comes to the eye and accolades from the whole nation.
As informed to Kamesh Srinivasan
