Notes

India Has More Medals Than Canada at the Commonwealth Games!
Yes, Canada's population is about the size of Orissa's (about 35 million or so) and it is tad bit colder making most sports, which are generally outdoor affairs, more difficult to master but in our success-starved cabinet of sporting accomplishments we have to celebrate every small victory we are able to! In fact, for a country that has justifiably made more news concerning the safety, or extreme lack of it, for its almost 600 million women, Indian women out-fought and out-muscled their counterparts from over 70 countries to win medals in weightlifting and judo.

In the women's 48 kg weightlifting category Sanjita Khumukcham lifted the Indian tricolor to gold by managing a combined 173 kg lift with Mirabai Chanu Saikhom winning silver with total of 170 kgs. Sushila Likmabam and Kalpana Thoudam both won medals in Judo and adding their names to short but impressive set of sportswomen India has produced through the years.

While we're able to lament at the lack of recognition everyone in India has regarding these sports or the impact women can make to it, I am interested in marveling for an instant at the power of a 48 kg person - female or male - to lift twice their bodyweight. I am uncertain where this ranks in the scale of human achievements but as somebody who attempts to workout on occasion I have rubbed shoulders with those that do so more frequently. I have seen they build up every weight they can on unfortunate bar and proceed to do a squat that's absolutely as difficult as it appears to be. The sweat-soaked, exhausted, unable to stand or sit, physical specimens shop around and proudly say - 'twice my body weight!' Appears like what Sanjita did is rather common then in gyms across India. That's almost true but not quite - In a squat, an individual carries the weight on the shoulders whereas a weightlifter carries the weight above their head. This is usually a massive difference - throughout a squat a weight is positioned on your shoulders and the person essentially performs a sit-up. The amount of difficulty in weightlifting, where one needs to pick that weight off the floor, up along your torso and then above your mind, is exponentially more challenging. That is why fitness aficionados and gym instructors in the united states are respectfully admiring Sanjita and Mirabai's feats with a true appreciation for amount of difficulty of these accomplishment.

It really is unlikely, however, for these medals to inspire a raft of women's weightlifters in India or to provide these exceptional women with much longterm financial security, impacts of medals which tend to be more usually observed in a country like Canada, however the true essence of a champion is driven by the need to succeed and be the best in their sport. Sanjita and Mirabai I suspect would gladly take the fame and riches more glamorous sports provide, but their desire to be the greatest in their sport cannot be fuelled by money but only by a passion for what they do. It really is something we forget in India when we academically choose sports for our children. Instead of providing them with a chance to be the best they may be, we shackle them with expectations for what the activity is supposed to provide. I dont know the pleasure Sanjita derives from lifting massive steel plates above her head everyday of her life but in it she found her purpose and her calling. Today she's confirmation that those years of dedication, commitment and good old fashioned hard work were all worth it in the best way possible. That is the essence of sport and no matter what level you compete, the knowledge stays with you an eternity. So while get more info may not have made it there ourselves, we have to certainly share the pride and joy our medallists feel.

Congratulations to all or any our Indian Champions at the Commonwealth Games 2014 who today have proof that they are best in the world at what they do.
Here's my website: https://www.simplyhindu.com/bethesda-softworks-games-of-2014/