The Asian Games as always provides some feel proud moments for Indian sports lovers. There are also the moments where a medal is lost by the merest of margins and the tears of the athlete are also the tears of the entire nation’s sporting community. How proud are we when the medals keep coming in and we look at each other and say, yes, we can do it and we did it.

This self-belief is one of the great transformative stories of Indian sports. From simply looking to participate in events we are now aiming for medals. With the Government of India backing the players and incentivising them with cash rewards, the medals are coming through thick and fast. The State Governments also are not too far behind as they also arrange felicitation functions that are inspirational for other aspiring athletes from the state too.