In my previous blog we arrived at a ratio (Total no. of medals won at the Asian Games)/(Total no. of medals won at Olympics) which correlated the performance of the Asian games with the Olympics that occurred in the same four year cycle.
We did find out that India's ratio of 17.83 was at the bottom of the list (remember a lower ratio points to a greater ability to reproduce one's Asian Games performance on the Olympic stage) when we considered the top ranking nations at Asian Games.
But one question remained unanswered, was this the greatest disparity between Asian Games and Olympics as far as India was concerned? I dove straight into the medal tallies from the previous century to dig up the answer to my question.
The graph brought about several interesting observations:
The graph brought about several interesting observations:
- Until 2008 Olympics, India's performance at the 1952 Helsinki games (with 2 medals) was its best ever. Sadly, India delivered what would be its finest medal tally (until 1982) at the first ever Asian Games in 1951. Such a thundering feat is often difficult to repeat on the global stage. That's why we have a lackluster ratio of 25.5
- In 1956 and 1960, the Olympic returns remained steady but the Asian Games accomplishments tanked. India's medal returns in 1954 Manila(17) and 1958 Tokyo (13) are the worst ever in its Asian Games history. Thus sub-par returns at the continental level and a single medal win ensured a new low of 13 which would not be surpassed until the 2012 games
- During the 60s and early 70s, India had better performances at the Asian Games but the Olympic acts were confined to a solitary medal at each edition. Thus the ratio hovered around the 20 mark
- The late 70s, 80s and early 90s were a period of true decline in Indian sport. The one bright spot during this time was the record breaking medal haul (57) at the 1982 Asian Games but you won't see this number reflected anywhere on the graph because of the blank drawn at the 84 Olympics
- Medal tallies at the continental games steadily improved through the late 90s until the 2006 Doha games where India produced its second best ever tally at the continental edition (53). This combined with the three medals at the 2008 Being Olympics brought the ratio down to below 20 for the first time in almost 50 years
- The record breaking spree continued. Both the 2010 Guangzhou games (65) and 2012 London Olympics (6) set best ever medal milestones for India resulting in a new low of 10.83. This value too was ultimately surpassed (10) when India accumulated 7 and 70 medals respectively at 2020 Tokyo and 2018 Jakarta games respectively
- The only blip during this time came in the period post London Olympics. The 2014 Incheon games (57) couldn't meet the lofty standards set at 2010 Guangzhou games while the 2016 Rio Olympics can be categorized as a near to close washout with only two medals
Thus performance at the Asian Games has been more or less an indicator of how well India does at Olympics except in the case of 1982 Asian Games. If you consider ratios the 2024 Paris Olympics would rank as India's fifth best ever. But I would rank this Olympics cycle as third best behind 2020 and 2012 Olympic cycles based on India's best ever haul at 2022 Hangzhou games. This Olympic cycle reiterated India's continental great status while leaving many unanswered questions as to when the country will evolve into an all sport giant.
Until Next Time,
Your Olympic Analyst
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