Mind the gap: India's pursuit of excellence

The 48-year-old marathon national record fell, but it also points to the distance India need to travel to reach global standards, say experts

- Rutvick Mehta

A week ago, Sawan Barwal managed to end a wait in Indian athletics that had lasted nearly half a century. The fall of the oldest national record brought a moment of cheer, and perhaps some reflection too.

It was not just that the late Shivnath Singh's marathon mark (2:12:00) had gone unchallenged for 48 years, but Barwal's timing of 2:11:58—as creditable as it is in his personal journey and the country’s current marathon scene—is a fair way away from even the Asia benchmark (2:04:43). The world record is almost sub two hours (2:00:35).

Stacking up the national records (NR) to Asian (AR) and world records (WR) across a range of events presents a similar picture. In a lot of them the gap is wide, in some it is relatively closer (see graphic).

As India harbours ambitions to host the Olympics, where athletics along with swimming offer the biggest chunk of medals, the focus, coaches concur, should be on strengthening events in which the gulf isn't too wide.

In those where it is, going to the grassroots with elite coaches to identify and develop event-specific, zone-wise talent could help bridge the gap in the long run. "We need a paradigm shift in our approach,” Robert Bobby George, former India triple jumper and Dronacharya awardee coach, said.

“Things are improving, but not in the desired way.”

Over the last decade, national marks in some events in men and women have moved closer to the AR—jumps, relays, 400m, 5,000-10,000m, and, of course, the Neeraj Chopra-inspired javelin throw.