R2R GD TOPIC NOTES

Fresh SSB batches starts 1st & 15th of every month. 

According to your opinion, which factor contributes the most to India's poor performance in the Olympics?
Leads:

1. Society & Parents
2. Education System
3. Infrastructure & Policies

• In many Indian households, sports is seen as a hobby, not a career. This mindset discourages children from pursuing athletics seriously.
• Parental Pressure to focus on academics leads to early dropouts from sports training.
• Lack of awareness about career opportunities in sports means only a few families encourage children towards it.
• Compared to countries like the USA or China, where sports culture is mainstream, India still struggles to normalize full-time athletic aspirations.

• Indian schools and colleges largely prioritize marks over medals.
• Sports is treated as an extracurricular activity rather than an integral part of development.
• There is no structured talent identification or long-term athlete development in most institutions.
• Schools often lack qualified sports teachers, proper equipment, and time slots for physical training.

• Despite programs like Khelo India and TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme), access to quality coaching and training centers is still limited.
• Rural and semi-urban areas, where much of India’s raw talent exists, lack basic sporting facilities and mentorship.
• Inconsistent funding, bureaucratic delays, and lack of long-term vision in sports policy slow down progress.
• Countries like China invest heavily in early talent grooming, while India’s policies often focus more on elite athletes close to Olympics.