Several young Indian marksmen and women were left disappointed at the Asaka shooting range one day after Mirabai Chanu's weightlifting silver sent Indian spirits soaring. Forecasts that predict how many medals India will win at the Olympics are made every four years, a practice that can polarise opinion. This year, India has been predicted to win 19 medals, of which four will be gold by many leading companies. It is also believed that most Indian sports officials have lofty expectations, promising a major prize money haul.

When you consider that India only won two medals at the last Olympics - one silver, one bronze - the long-haul gamble for Tokyo 2020 seems risky. India's finish will fall between these two extremes. It seems realistic to expect higher numbers than last time, but not double digits. 

Considering its sports scene, India certainly punches below its weight. In every Olympic Games, China and Russia win multiple gold medals. On the other hand, the event is a source of despair for India, a country with one of the largest populations and fastest-growing economies.

Most of the time, it doesn't appear to matter - as long as there is cricket on TV - but when the world's finest athletes assemble for the Olympics, the truth becomes apparent. Only then is the Indian self-confidence challenged and the age-old question asked: why can't one billion people win the Olympic gold?

In Indian households, education ranks higher than extracurricular activities like sports. There is a popular Hindi saying that goes “If you study hard, you will live like a king, but if you play sports, you will ruin your life."

Considering that our country treats sports as an 'unnecessary distraction', it's quite remarkable that we win as many medals as we do. A lot of credit for that goes to athletes, their families, and teams that support them, as our upbringing and education do little to help us achieve it.

Similarly, the lack of sports infrastructure in India hampers the pursuit of unconventional sports (or even conventional ones), which means that one must struggle to find a space to practice - if he or she can even afford shoes and a kit. The misuse of power only makes matters worse.

Due to the overwhelming emphasis placed on marks and percentages, many young students are becoming more isolated and trapped in a mindless and test-oriented rat race to become successful. This has made coaching centers the multi-billion dollar business that they are today.

Since everything in society is going through a revamp and having to adapt to the new normal, the need to inculcate sports as a daily habit and imparting physical education is more critical today than ever before.

The first step is educating everyone about this topic, and educational institutions may wish to reconsider their age-old educational methods and emphasize the necessity of integrating sports into the curriculum. 

The skill-based education of the future is critically important, and KidsChaupal, an online educational platform, aims to empower kids with life skills to lead a happier, more fulfilling life. In addition to its specially designed courses focusing on all-round development, it provides a series of activities, events, and programs aimed at nurturing creativity, confidence, emotional intelligence, and adaptability among /kids.

Parallel to this, the study of sports sciences and sports management at the high school, college, and university levels will boost our nation's sporting ecosystem's professionalism and enable us to compete internationally while tapping into the 756 billion dollar global sports industry, resulting in meaningful employment and financial stability for many. If and when these developments begin, we can expect more Indians to rise to the Olympics' prominence.