'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
This week is poised to be a huge week for India in terms of sports for a couple of reasons. First of all, it sees the return of everybody's favourite annual franchise cricket league, the Indian Premier League (IPL). IPL returns with its 11th season with various things to look forward to, such as the return of two of the past winners -- Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. Furthermore, one of the biggest auctions to take place in the history of the league has made sure that the squads head to their respective territories with a completely fresh look.
This week also sees the commencement of the 21st Commonwealth Games which are taking place in Gold Coast, Australia starting from 4th April. CWG is the second biggest multi-sport event after the Olympics Games and although it lacks the number in terms of participating nations, it certainly is able to match the passion and spirit of the Olympics.
India has been a part of the Commonwealth of Nations that participate in the games from its very inception in 1930 and will be appearing at the quadrennial event for the 17th time.
As both sporting events draw closer, we look at why you should probably look forward to the one taking place in Gold Coast more than the one happening at home.
#1 A united nation
Indian Premier League is a franchise league intended to divide the country into smaller territories. Its main motive, as is any other domestic league's, is to create several fanbases restricted within sections panning across the whole country. IPL has been able to do that for the most part, creating regional franchises over the years. Usually, when one of those franchises wins, the rest are unified in their collective disappointment.
However, in an event of an international magnitude such as the Commonwealth Games, people from different parts of the country are united towards a single goal, which is to win at any cost. The athletes bestowed with this purpose no longer want to appease a part of the country, but the country as a whole.
And so these games bring about a different feeling altogether. Everybody wants to win, but they want to win together. That feeling, when your flag is raised above others and the athletes look on proudly against the backdrop of the national anthem, is a feeling far better than winning any domestic competition.
#2 Happens once every four years
India's premier cricket league comes around annually. Every year, starting somewhere around April, people put on their colours and flock to the stadiums or sit in front of their television screens to support their teams. Every year we witness some magnificent and entertaining games of cricket. Every year, the cricketing league bids farewell to the audience after a couple of months of pulsating action with a promise of popping back on our television screens next year.
The quadrennial games have some amazing moments of their own. They give a chance to the fans to support their nations on an international stage and the athletes to showcase all that they've learned after years of intense training. So, it's only fair that when an event as exclusive as the Commonwealth Games comes around, you divert your attention towards it.
#3 India's strongest contingent in years
With the exception of cricket, India hasn't performed too brightly on an international stage. While we are known for our ruthlessness on the field of cricket, we've always fallen short of achieving the same targets in other sports.
However recently, India has been making progress in other sports as well. We have had a strong representation in badminton in international events for years now and have been making great strides in others sports such wrestling, shooting and boxing as well.
India has been doing well in the CWG as well since the turn of the century, most notably winning 101 medals and finishing 2nd in 2010. This year's contingent is the strongest it has been in years. Made up of seasoned performers such as P.V. Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, M.C. Mary Kom, Jitu Rai, and newcomers like Neeraj Chopra and Mehuli Ghosh among others, big things are expected from India at the games.
#4 India's future prospects on display
Few feelings are as satisfying in sports than spotting a talent early on in their career and then seeing them progress to become one of the bests in the world. The 2018 Commonwealth Games are another chance for India to showcase some of their best young talents.
Good things are expected of Mehuli Ghosh, a 17-year-old shooter, who finished with 11 medals at the 2017 National Championships as well as Manu Bhaker, yet another young shooting prospect. Another such talent is high-jumper Tejaswin Shankar. At the age of 19, he already holds the national record and has the joint best performance in high jump by a Commonwealth athlete this year.
20-year-old Neeraj Chopra is India's hope for Javelin Throw. The Haryana born athlete won gold at 2016 World U20 Championships and 2017 Asian Athletic Championships. He also holds a world junior record in the same sport. In boxing as well, there are Hussamuddin Mohammed and Lovlina Borgohain.
With the sports ministry also on the drive to promote and develop young talent under their Khelo India programme, India is surely on their way to produce some future stars.
#5 Rehearsal for the Olympics
India has performed well at the Commonwealth Games in the last two decades. The country gave their best performance in 2010 when the games were held in New Delhi. India also stands 4th in the all-time rankings of the countries at the CWG.
However, India has never been able to replicate the same success in the Olympic Games. Over the years this has been one of the biggest disappointments in Indian sports. While the country's contingent is continually growing at every subsequent event such as these, the results are usually unsatisfactory.
The Gold Coast games bring another opportunity for India to measure their performance against some of the best. While superpowers such as the U.S.A and China are absent from these games, India still faces some tough competition from heavyweights such as England, Australia, and Canada. A good display from Indian athletes could signal intent ahead of the 2020 games in Tokyo.
