London tally offers hope for better future

NEW DELHI: Did anyone predict a total of six medals for India in London? Before the Games began, there were all sorts of predictions on how many medals we could get, ranging from zero to nine. However , the final haul of two silver and four bronze -- the nation's best-ever at an Olympic Games -- does prove one thing: India doesn't compete to make up the numbers any more.
When the archers flopped and the tennis stars disappeared without a trace, critics were quick to write off India's chances, wondering whether the impressive show in Beijing was just a flash in the pan.
The answer came from Gagan Narang, who fired down a bronze to open India's account and made up for the disappointing show from Beijing gold medallist Abhinav Bindra. For the second straight Olympics, India had a podium finish in the 10m air rifle event. On Sunday it ended similarly in wrestling, with Sushil Kumar upgrading his Beijing bronze to silver with a spectacular display of technique.
Saina Nehwal bagged the medal which Sania Mirza couldn't . She was followed by Mary Kom, who despite losing to a Team GB boxer won a million hearts. As Indians began their countdown towards the closing ceremony, it was the turn of the wrestlers to shine. Yogeshwar Dutt made it count as he battled fatigue to win three bouts in less than an hour. Then, of course, came the silver lining from Sushil.
The end result is proof that public-private partnerships to promote sport are the way forward . The work of two private bodies -- Olympic Gold Quest and Mittal's Champions Trust -- has made a world of difference . Now, we should start making Sports Authority of India officials accountable.