Since the Commonwealth Games rank below the Asian Games in the order of multidisciplinary sports, most athletes prefer to peak later. As per the earlier schedule, the Hangzhou Asian Games was scheduled to be held exactly a month after the Commonwealth Games. With the Asian event now pushed back to next year due to the COVID-19 situation in China, the Birmingham Games have assumed a lot of importance.
For someone like Neeraj Chopra, the Diamond League after the World Championships and then the Asian Games would have been the way forward from the 2024 Paris Olympics. With the rescheduling of the Asian Games, however, the Commonwealth Games have now become far more important for athletes. It is now a 24-month cycle that begins with the Commonwealth Games, followed by the Asian Games in September October 2023 and ends with the Olympics in August 2024. In short, the cancellation of the Asian Games has greatly helped in making the Commonwealth Games more competitive and enjoyable. ,
The Birmingham Games now have serious significance for the Commonwealth as well. In 2022, the Commonwealth is considered an outdated organization and needs sport more than ever. At its inception in 1930, the Commonwealth Games were held as an alternative to the Olympics. Organized to challenge the growing American sporting hegemony at the Summer Games, the level of competition at the Commonwealth Games was comparable to the Olympics until the 1960s.
Politically also the Commonwealth Games was relevant. The Commonwealth was considered a shaping force in the new global world order that emerged in the colonial era of the 1940s and 1950s. It explains the determination of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to remain as a member of the Commonwealth and to use the Games to demonstrate India’s growing stature in the new world order.
Things have changed since then and the Asian Games have significantly surpassed the Commonwealth Games. The success of the Commonwealth Games is no longer an indication of preparations for the Olympics. But this is where Birmingham 2022 is different and can give a new life to the Commonwealth.
“With the postponement of the Asian Games, this is the only multi-disciplinary event of the year. In Tokyo, we won bronze. The CWG is an opportunity to improve the color of the medals,” said PR Sreejesh, mentor of the Indian hockey team.
Savita Punia, who is leading the women’s team, agreed. “The CWG is an opportunity to push the momentum after Tokyo. The World Cup was not good for us but Birmingham offers a possibility to improve things. We are committed to give our best for the podium finish,” said Punia.
Things are a little different for Neeraj. “When we play in the Diamond League or continental competitions, we have the opportunity to rest and play. But that’s not the case in multidisciplinary games. We know people back home will be watching the Commonwealth Games. In Birmingham, I am not competing as Neeraj Chopra. I will be competing as Neeraj who is a member of the Indian contingent. This is what makes the Commonwealth Games all the more important,” he said.
In some disciplines the level of competition is no less than that of the Olympics or the World Cup. The long jump is a case in point, as Anju Bobby George has repeatedly pointed out in the press. Women’s cricket is also a prime example. Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, India and Barbados are all playing, the competition being a Mini T20 World Cup. Making the podium for Harmanpreet Kaur’s team will be a difficult task. And if they do so by beating teams like New Zealand, England and South Africa, it will be a huge moment in the history of Indian women’s cricket.
With over 5,000 athletes descending on Birmingham over the next few days and 1.5 million tickets sold despite COVID-19, the 2022 CWG is expected to be a sporting extravaganza of real significance. Maybe that’s why Mirabai Chanu said, “When you come for my event please bring a pizza to the stadium. I’ll do my best to win gold for India and improve in Tokyo. So you have to bring me pizza.” ”
In the absence of shooting, which usually happens at Commonwealth and Asian level, India will need Chanu, PV Sindhu, Neeraj, Ravi Dahiya and Bajrang Punia to perform at their best and ensure that India finish in the medal tally. to make it to the top four. If this happens, the momentum achieved in Tokyo will be maintained and will prepare India for a formidable challenge at the 2023 Asian Games and finally 2024 Paris.
No comments:
Post a Comment