A record 34 track and field athletes (out of India’s total 117) took part in the Olympics — the grandest of the world stage — but in the end, except for Lalita Babar it turned out to be a mere presence.
The Rio performance was one of the worst in India’s athletics history. In London 2012, two athletes — Vikas Gowda and Krishna Poonia — made it to the finals while two race walkers came up with national record timings.
But this time the performance was disappointing despite the Sports Ministry splashing crores of rupees on their training under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme.
