Archive for June 2010
World Cup 2010: Where is India?
Indian Population – 1,139,964,932 World Population - 6,697,254,041
- 2008 (Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators)
Indians comprise 17% of total population according to a stat from 2008 and with annual population growth rate of 1.34% (as compared to 1.17% world population growth rate), India is pushing towards a whopping 18%.
18%. Think about that for a second. One in every 5.5 people on this planet is an Indian. Though it makes sense now as to why I can find Indian food to eat anywhere I go, I am deeply disappointed in the fact that India is no where to be seen in the latest craze that has swept the whole world off their feet. The Football World Cup 2010. Every 2nd year, between Olympics and Football, I am reminded how pathetic we are when it comes to sports. Every time I thought, may be next time and hoped to see India in world cup. Alas!
What’s that? What about Cricket you say! Well, what about it? Haven’t you watched the recent series?
So I did some digging. And this is what I found: India is ranked 133rd as of May of 2010. 133rd !! Out of 194 countries in the world (including Vatican City and Kosovo) and the worst part is, it is going down, just look at the graph below. India saw a whopping 94th in 1996 and since then it is drifting down.
Can someone explain why we are so bad in sports? And please don’t tell me that India does not have enough money, passion or talent for sports because you would be proven wrong if you watched just one cricket match.
May be 2014….
India ranks 133rd in World Football with average ranking of 126
