Good, not good enough: On India and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026

Without raising sports standards, India should not bid for hosting Olympics

Aspiring (आकांक्षा रखना, लक्ष्य रखना) to host (आयोजन करना, मेजबानी करना) the Olympic Games in 2036, India faced (सामना करना, निपटना) a harsh (कठोर) reality check (an occasion that causes one to consider the facts about a situation rather than opinions or beliefs; rude awakening, hard truth, eye-opener, moment of truth) at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games (The 20th Asian Games, designated as Aichi-Nagoya 2026, is scheduled to take place from September 19 to October 4, 2026, across Japan’s Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City. Operating under the slogan “Imagine One Asia,” the continental multi-sport event is organized under the governance of the Olympic Council of Asia). Compared with the previous Hangzhou Games (the 19th edition of the Asian Games, a multi-sport event officially held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, in 2023), where it won 106 medals with a 650-plus contingent (दल, प्रतिनिधिमंडल), the country won 85 medals from around (लगभग, करीब) 500 athletes. The aggregate fell short of an internally projected figure of around 100 medals. It is likely (संभावित, संभव) to invite (उकसाना, कारण बनना) a thorough (संपूर्ण, विस्तृत) postmortem (समीक्षा, विश्लेषण), given (को देखते हुए, ध्यान में रखते हुए) the hundreds of crores of public money (जनता का धन, सरकारी धन) spent on the athletes’ preparation (तैयारी). India laboured (मेहनत करना, प्रयास करना) to 21 gold medals, seven fewer than (से कम) in Hangzhou, after a late surge (a sudden rise, increase, jump, upswing) of 11 top honours (the highest award or achievement in a particular competition; gold medal, first place, highest accolade, championship, ultimate prize) in the last two days, driven by (motivated or determined by a particular factor; motivated by, propelled by, prompted by, spurred by) the exploits ((a bold or daring) achievement, feat, accomplishment, deed) of archers, boxers, wrestlers, and hockey and cricket players. It tied (to achieve the same score or ranking as another competitor; draw, equal, match, level) with Uzbekistan but managed (to succeed in doing something difficult; succeed, achieve, accomplish, pull off) to retain (to continue to have something or keep possession of it; keep, maintain, preserve, hold on to) its fourth spot (a particular position, place, or ranking; position, place, rank, standing) on the strength of (on the basis of or using something as a source of support; on the basis of, based on, thanks to, by virtue of) a bigger haul (tally, collection, yield, accumulation) of silver. Thirteen of the gold medals came from team events (a sports competition in which groups of players compete as a single unit; group competition, team sport), with cricket, kabaddi and hockey making a clean sweep of titles. It underscored a stark reality: the country needs to raise its bar in medal-fetching (capable of winning or bringing in medals; medal-winning, successful, victorious, rewarding) individual sports, such as athletics, swimming, gymnastics, fencing and cycling, which determine success in multi-disciplinary (involving or combining several different sports or professional specializations; multi-sport, diverse, varied, comprehensive) Games. China, the runaway (happening easily or decisively without serious competition; easy, clear, undisputed, overwhelming) winner with a massive aggregate (huge total, (huge) cumulative figure) of 341 medals, including 169 gold, secured (to succeed in obtaining or achieving something; obtain, acquire, gain, win) 54 medals in swimming alone. Barring (except for, excluding, omitting, apart from) athletics, India stood nowhere.

On a brighter note (used to introduce a more positive or optimistic point in a discussion; positively, optimistically, favorably, encouragingly), India fielded 310 debutants and recorded a marginal increase in its athlete-to-medal ratio ahead of Los Angeles 2028. Several historic (momentous, significant, notable, landmark) performances (showing, display, execution, presentation) provided reasons to rejoice (to feel or show great joy or delight; celebrate, exult, be glad, cheer). Seventeen-year-old rookie (new to a profession or activity and lacking experience; inexperienced, novice, beginner, new) recurve archer (an archer who competes using a recurve bow, a type of bow whose limbs curve away from the archer at the ends; recurve bow shooter, archery athlete, recurve specialist, competitive archer) Kumkum Mohod dismantling (to completely defeat or destroy a system, opponent, or organization; crush, defeat, demolish, overcome) the Korean women’s hegemony (leadership or dominance over others; dominance, supremacy, control, leadership) to help the archery team contribute five gold medals was a defining moment (milestone, turning point, landmark, watershed). Trap shooter Neeru Dhanda, golfer Pranavi Urs, wrestler Sujeet Kalkal and the women’s hockey team, which upset (to defeat an opponent that is considered stronger or more likely to win; defeat, beat, overcome, topple) Paris Olympics silver medallist China to clinch (to confirm or secure a victory or deal; secure, win, seal, achieve) gold after 44 years, hogged the limelight. Lovlina Borgohain, Aman Sehrawat, Mirabai Chanu, Vithya Ramraj and Gulveer Singh lived up to their billing (the way in which someone or something is described or expected to perform; reputation, expectation, promotion, advertisement). Boxers, wrestlers and golfers registered noticeable (clear, distinct, evident, apparent) improvement. Olympic quota (allocation, share, allowance, portion) places in archery and hockey added to the excitement (a feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness; enthusiasm, thrill, exhilaration, anticipation). Indian women catching up with men — both genders (either of the two sexes (male and female); sex, category, classification, identification) delivered (to provide or produce something promised or expected; provide, produce, achieve, yield) 38 medals apiece (to, for, or by each one of a group; each, respectively, individually, separately) — was another encouraging (promising, hopeful, positive, heartening) sign. On the flip side (looking at the opposite or less positive aspect of a situation; conversely, on the other hand, alternatively, however), India’s two major contributors, athletics and shooting, which earned 24 and 15 medals, respectively (correspondingly, individually, separately, sequentially), yielded (to produce or provide an outcome or result; produce, generate, bring in, return) 12 fewer medals than in 2023. The shuttlers (a person who plays badminton; badminton player) slipped (to fall to a lower standard or position; fall, drop, decline, plunge), while the tennis players returned empty-handed (having failed to obtain or achieve what one wanted; with nothing, unsuccessful, defeated, unrewarded) after 40 years. P.V. Sindhu and Manu Bhaker flopped. Stricter scrutiny of athletes’ funding and efficient implementation of the revamped (reorganized, overhauled, updated, renewed) Khelo India (a national programme introduced by the Government of India in 2018 to revive sports culture at the grass-root level by building a strong framework for all sports played in the country) scheme, designed with a long-term (extended, prolonged, lasting, enduring) vision (foresight, anticipation, plan, strategy), are essential for course correction (a change in action or policy to correct a mistake or improve a situation; adjustment, modification, realignment, rectification). Without propelling (push, drive, force, advance) India’s sporting standards, a bid (an offer or an attempt to achieve something; attempt, effort, endeavor, try) to host the Olympics may become a countdown (timeline, ticking clock, progression, build-up) to international embarrassment (a feeling of shame, self-consciousness, or awkwardness; shame, humiliation, disgrace, ignominy).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.host (verb)

Hindi Meaning - आयोजन करना, मेजबानी करना
English Meaning - to organize and provide space and facilities for an event; organize, hold, conduct, stage.

2.aspire (verb)

Hindi Meaning - आकांक्षा रखना, लक्ष्य रखना
English Meaning - to direct one’s hopes or ambitions toward achieving something; desire, aim, hope, wish.

3.face (verb)

Hindi Meaning - सामना करना, निपटना
English Meaning - to confront and deal with a difficult situation; encounter, confront, tackle, experience.

4.harsh (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - कठोर
English Meaning - unpleasantly severe, grim, bleak, stark.

5.contingent (noun)

Hindi Meaning - दल, प्रतिनिधिमंडल
English Meaning - a group of people representing a country or organization at an event; delegation, deputation, squad, group, unit, team.

6.around (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - लगभग, करीब
English Meaning - approximately, roughly, nearly, about.

7.likely (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - संभावित, संभव
English Meaning - probable, expected, anticipated, possible.

8.thorough (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - संपूर्ण, विस्तृत
English Meaning - complete and careful with regard to every detail; comprehensive, exhaustive, detailed, in-depth.

9.postmortem (noun)

Hindi Meaning - समीक्षा, विश्लेषण
English Meaning - analysis, review, evaluation, assessment.

10.given (preposition)

Hindi Meaning - को देखते हुए, ध्यान में रखते हुए
English Meaning - taking into account or considering a particular thing; considering, bearing in mind, in view of, assuming.

11.public money (noun)

Hindi Meaning - जनता का धन, सरकारी धन
English Meaning - funds collected by the government from taxes and spent on public services; taxpayer money, state funds, government funds, public treasury.

12.preparation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - तैयारी
English Meaning - groundwork, readiness, training, arrangement.

13.labour (verb)

Hindi Meaning - मेहनत करना, प्रयास करना
English Meaning - to work hard or make a massive effort to achieve something; struggle, strive, toil, work hard.

14.invite (verb)

Hindi Meaning - उकसाना, कारण बनना
English Meaning - to cause a particular reaction or result, often an unpleasant one; provoke, prompt, cause, elicit.

15.fewer than (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - से कम
English Meaning - less than, not as many as.

16.reality check (noun)

English Meaning - an occasion that causes one to consider the facts about a situation rather than opinions or beliefs; rude awakening, hard truth, eye-opener, moment of truth.

17.bid for (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to make an attempt to get something; attempt, strive for, pursue, seek.

18.Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games (noun)

English Meaning - The 20th Asian Games, designated as Aichi-Nagoya 2026, is scheduled to take place from September 19 to October 4, 2026, across Japan’s Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City. Operating under the slogan “Imagine One Asia,” the continental multi-sport event is organized under the governance of the Olympic Council of Asia.

19.Hangzhou Games (noun)

English Meaning - the 19th edition of the Asian Games, a multi-sport event officially held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, in 2023.

20.surge (noun)

English Meaning - a sudden rise, increase, jump, upswing.

21.top honours (noun)

English Meaning - the highest award or achievement in a particular competition; gold medal, first place, highest accolade, championship, ultimate prize.

22.driven by (phrase)

English Meaning - motivated or determined by a particular factor; motivated by, propelled by, prompted by, spurred by.

23.exploit (noun)

English Meaning - (a bold or daring) achievement, feat, accomplishment, deed.

24.tie (verb)

English Meaning - to achieve the same score or ranking as another competitor; draw, equal, match, level.

25.manage (verb)

English Meaning - to succeed in doing something difficult; succeed, achieve, accomplish, pull off.

26.retain (verb)

English Meaning - to continue to have something or keep possession of it; keep, maintain, preserve, hold on to.

27.spot (noun)

English Meaning - a particular position, place, or ranking; position, place, rank, standing.

28.on the strength of (phrase)

English Meaning - on the basis of or using something as a source of support; on the basis of, based on, thanks to, by virtue of.

29.haul (noun)

English Meaning - tally, collection, yield, accumulation.

30.team event (noun)

English Meaning - a sports competition in which groups of players compete as a single unit; group competition, team sport.

31.raise one’s bar (phrase)

English Meaning - set a higher standard for one’s own performance, achievement, or expectations; to raise the standards; improve standards, elevate expectations, demand more, aim higher, set higher goals, improve one’s performance,

32.medal-fetching (adjective)

English Meaning - capable of winning or bringing in medals; medal-winning, successful, victorious, rewarding.

33.multi-disciplinary (adjective)

English Meaning - involving or combining several different sports or professional specializations; multi-sport, diverse, varied, comprehensive.

34.runaway (adjective)

English Meaning - happening easily or decisively without serious competition; easy, clear, undisputed, overwhelming.

35.massive (adjective)

English Meaning - huge, enormous, immense, colossal.

36.massive aggregate (noun)

English Meaning - huge total, (huge) cumulative figure.

37.secure (verb)

English Meaning - to succeed in obtaining or achieving something; obtain, acquire, gain, win.

38.barring (preposition)

English Meaning - except for, excluding, omitting, apart from.

39.stand nowhere (phrase)

English Meaning - to have no position of importance or chance of success; have no chance, fail to compete, be irrelevant, be uncompetitive.

40.on a brighter note (phrase)

English Meaning - used to introduce a more positive or optimistic point in a discussion; positively, optimistically, favorably, encouragingly.

41.historic (adjective)

English Meaning - momentous, significant, notable, landmark.

42.performance (noun)

English Meaning - showing, display, execution, presentation.

43.rejoice (verb)

English Meaning - to feel or show great joy or delight; celebrate, exult, be glad, cheer.

44.rookie (adjective)

English Meaning - new to a profession or activity and lacking experience; inexperienced, novice, beginner, new.

45.recurve archer (noun)

English Meaning - an archer who competes using a recurve bow, a type of bow whose limbs curve away from the archer at the ends; recurve bow shooter, archery athlete, recurve specialist, competitive archer.

46.compound archery (noun)

English Meaning - a modern form of archery using a compound bow fitted with pulleys and cables that provide mechanical advantage; modern archery, compound-bow shooting, compound competition, compound-bow archery. Example: Compound archery is a modern competitive discipline that uses technologically advanced bows with cams, cables, and mechanical release aids.

47.recurve archery (noun)

English Meaning - a form of archery using a recurve bow, whose limbs curve away from the archer at the tips; recurve-bow shooting, recurve competition, recurve shooting, target archery. Example: Recurve archery is the form of archery used at the Olympic Games and represents the modern evolution of traditional bow designs that have existed for thousands of years.

48.dismantle (verb)

English Meaning - to completely defeat or destroy a system, opponent, or organization; crush, defeat, demolish, overcome.

49.hegemony (noun)

English Meaning - leadership or dominance over others; dominance, supremacy, control, leadership.

50.defining moment (noun)

English Meaning - milestone, turning point, landmark, watershed.

51.upset (verb)

English Meaning - to defeat an opponent that is considered stronger or more likely to win; defeat, beat, overcome, topple.

52.clinch (verb)

English Meaning - to confirm or secure a victory or deal; secure, win, seal, achieve.

53.hog the limelight (phrase)

English Meaning - to take all the attention for oneself; dominate the attention, steal the show, take center stage, be the center of attention.

54.live up to (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to fulfill expectations or standards; fulfill, meet, satisfy, match.

55.billing (noun)

English Meaning - the way in which someone or something is described or expected to perform; reputation, expectation, promotion, advertisement.

56.noticeable (adjective)

English Meaning - clear, distinct, evident, apparent.

57.quota (noun)

English Meaning - allocation, share, allowance, portion.

58.add to (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - increase, augment, boost, enhance.

59.excitement (noun)

English Meaning - a feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness; enthusiasm, thrill, exhilaration, anticipation.

60.catch up with (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to reach the same quality or standard as someone or something else; equal, match, draw level with, keep pace with.

61.gender (noun)

English Meaning - either of the two sexes (male and female); sex, category, classification, identification.

62.deliver (verb)

English Meaning - to provide or produce something promised or expected; provide, produce, achieve, yield.

63.apiece (adverb)

English Meaning - to, for, or by each one of a group; each, respectively, individually, separately.

64.encouraging (adjective)

English Meaning - promising, hopeful, positive, heartening.

65.on the flip side (phrase)

English Meaning - looking at the opposite or less positive aspect of a situation; conversely, on the other hand, alternatively, however.

66.respectively (adverb)

English Meaning - correspondingly, individually, separately, sequentially.

67.yield (verb)

English Meaning - to produce or provide an outcome or result; produce, generate, bring in, return.

68.shuttler (noun)

English Meaning - a person who plays badminton; badminton player.

69.slip (verb)

English Meaning - to fall to a lower standard or position; fall, drop, decline, plunge.

70.empty-handed (adjective)

English Meaning - having failed to obtain or achieve what one wanted; with nothing, unsuccessful, defeated, unrewarded.

71.revamped (adjective)

English Meaning - reorganized, overhauled, updated, renewed.

72.Khelo India (noun)

English Meaning - a national programme introduced by the Government of India in 2018 to revive sports culture at the grass-root level by building a strong framework for all sports played in the country.

73.long-term (adjective)

English Meaning - extended, prolonged, lasting, enduring.

74.vision (noun)

English Meaning - foresight, anticipation, plan, strategy.

75.course correction (noun)

English Meaning - a change in action or policy to correct a mistake or improve a situation; adjustment, modification, realignment, rectification.

76.propel (verb)

English Meaning - push, drive, force, advance.

77.bid (noun)

English Meaning - an offer or an attempt to achieve something; attempt, effort, endeavor, try.

78.countdown (noun)

English Meaning - timeline, ticking clock, progression, build-up.