Commonwealth Games: A stepping stone for the future

Our honourable sports minister has every reason to be disappointed, when he finds some of the top names missing from the Commonwealth Games list of participants. After all, the October Games will surely be the biggest sports event that India would host during his tenure. One can't blame him for wanting it to be a memorable one.

Not just the sports minister, every Indian would be disappointed at not finding a Usain Bolt or an Asafa Powell on the start list of the 100m. Wouldn't it have been great to have a Bolt-Powell collision in our very own New Delhi? There was always a chance that Powell would have pushed Bolt towards a world record. There are so many possibilities when two of the world's best sprinters face off.

However, before we let our disappointment set in, we must remember that the Commonwealth Games have never been a favourite among athletes. The third largest Games after the Olympics and the Asian Games does not rank anywhere near them in popularity.

Even if Bolt and Powell had decided to compete, it is unlikely that they would have come up with very good timings. The New Delhi Commonwealth Games will be held at the fag end of the calendar year and this is the time when athletes prefer to either preserve themselves, or rest and recuperate for the next season. With top athletes planning for the World Championships next year, Commonwealth Games was never a priority.

Donning the country colours is a matter of pride for every athlete and the Bolts and Powells might have missed an opportunity. However, they have done so at the highest level (the Olympic Games) and the CWG might not have been enough to inspire them.

Powell, incidentally is the defending champion in 100m sprint, having won in Melbourne with a time of 10.03s. Not too flattering by his standards. Incidentally, the 2006 Melbourne Games were held in March, a time of the year when athletes are gradually moving towards their peak form.

Surely, Bolt and Powell would be missed, as would British cyclists Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton, tennis player Andy Murray and Jamaica's women's Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser.

Fraser, incidentally has failed a dope test and remains provisionally suspended.

Despite his disappointments, minister MS Gill might have a lot to look forward to. The standard of competitions will still be high. Some of the winners here would be faces for the future. And most importantly, India's capability to hold major international tournaments would be tested.

Gill might not go down in history as the sports minister who managed to bring the world's best sprinter to India, but his ministry will be remembered for playing a major role in shaping the country's future as a sporting nation.

Gill, and every one associated with sport, should look upon the Commonwealth Games as a stepping stone towards better things. If India manages to conduct a successful tournament, the world might just be convinced that the nation is ready to host the Olympics, or at least the Asian Games. So far, any talks on India bidding for the Olympic Games has appeared too farfetched. The Commonwealth Games might just change that perception. For that, everyone — from Gill downwards — has to be convinced that come October, we are poised to take a giant step forward in our quest towards become a respected sporting nation.