After much deliberation since the 2012 Olympics, five sports were approved by the International Olympic Committee. The sports being brought back to the 2020 games were Baseball/Softball, Karate, Sport Climbing, Surfing, and Skateboarding. Wrestling was initially dropped in 2013 but reinstated the same year after a vote from IOC leaders.
Losing wrestling would’ve had a major impact on India as they’ve won three medals in the last two Olympic games after failing to win any since Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav in 1952. Yogeshwar Dutt won the bronze medal at the 60 kg event and Sushil Kumar won the silver medal at the 66 kg event in 2012. Kumar also obtained a bronze medal in 2008 as well.
As Dutt and Kumar are 33-years-old going into the 2016 Olympics, getting the younger talent started would continue India’s development of wrestling talent. At the 2014 Asian Games, Dutt won the gold medal in the 65 kg men’s freestyle event along with fellow countrymen Bajrang Punia and Narsingh Pancham Yadav winning a silver and bronze medal in their respective events. In the women’s freestyle, both Vinesh Phogat and Geetika Jakhar won bronze medals in their respective events.
But the biggest question the Indian Olympic Association faces is, what impact do the new sports have for Indian athletes? Karate, Sport Climbing, Surfing, and Skateboarding will be new to the Olympics while Baseball and Softball return after last being featured in 2008. While Baseball and Softball have been played at schools and universities, baseball is played at a professional and national level.
The Amateur Baseball Federation of India was founded in 1983 and India's first national baseball championship occurred in 1985. India’s two International baseball players, Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel, were both featured on the show Million Dollar Arm. They later signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates of MLB and will likely feature on the national team.
Singh is still playing in the Pirates minor league system, for the Bradenton Marauders, while Patel returned to India. The national team won the Bronze Medal at the inaugural Asian Baseball Cup in 1995 and a Silver Medal in 1999 as the host nation. After the format was changed to an east and west division, India secured another bronze medal in the most recent tournament in 2015.
Skateboarding has been a newly acquired hobby by Indians. India held its first international skate tour in 2015 and since Sk8 Goa was made in 2003, there are now 17 parks in 11 cities including Khar Social in Mumbai and Freemotion Sk8 in Delhi.
Surfing has ample amounts of opportunities to practice in India, as there are over 7500 km (4600 miles) of coastline. The governing body is the Surfing Federation of India, where their aim is to select Indian surfers to form a National Team and host national and international competitions.
The Karate Association of India is also recognised by the Government of India and has 34 member states all over India. The aim of the association is to promote Karate all over India, at schools, and universities. The main focus is to better those involved in the sport and provide a method of self-defence.
Sport Climbing is another new hobby to locals and foreigners as well. With many good views and other spots to explore such as caves, waterfalls, and temples, many people are getting involved at places like Shey Rock, Kashmir, Paithamala, Kerala, and Susunia Hills, West Bengal.
If the five new sports don’t generate enough interest they could be discontinued. Although an immediate impact in any new sport is asking a lot, the same could be said for many other countries who have recently picked up recreational interest for these sports. Should the new sports gain momentum and produce new talent, they can reach the levels of other excelling sports like Shooting and Boxing.
Shooting has arguably been the most successful sport at the Olympics for India, given that they have recorded 4 medals in the last 3 games, with Abhinav Bindra recording India’s first gold medal in Men’s 10 m air rifle. Vijender Singh won a bronze medal in 2008 and Mary Kom also won bronze in 2012 in their respective boxing events. At the Asian Games, India got a medal in each women’s event, getting 1 gold and 2 bronze medals. In the men’s competition, Vikas Krishan Yadav and Satish Kumar received bronze medals in their events.
As India embarks on the 2016 Olympics with a record 121 athletes participating, they hope to better their total from 2012 of 2 silver medals and 4 bronze medals. With the right facilities, investment, and people involved, India can become even better than they are with their existing sports and the new ones to follow leading to the 2020 games.
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