At the SSI Sports Science Conclave 2025, Olympian and former Asian Shot Put champion OP Singh Karhana delivered a deeply insightful and hard-hitting address drawn from over two decades of experience in elite sport. His central message was clear and uncompromising — India does not lose medals due to lack of talent, but due to a broken ecosystem that fails to work together.
“Sport Is a Team Game — You Don’t Beat One State, You Beat the World”
Drawing from his 20–25 years in high-performance sport, Karhana stressed that international success is never the result of individual brilliance alone.
“It’s a team game. You don’t defeat one state or one opponent — you defeat the world,” he said.
He emphasized that administrators, doctors, scientists, coaches, and support staff must work in cohesion. Without this unity, even the most talented athlete is left vulnerable at the global stage.
The Coach: The Real Architect Behind Every Medal
Karhana repeatedly underlined that the coach is the backbone of the entire sporting ecosystem. From talent identification to physical conditioning, psychology, nutrition, and recovery — every scientific layer of sport ultimately flows through the coach.
“A coach is the one who shows the athlete the dream — and then helps make it real.”
Yet, he pointed out a painful contradiction in Indian sport:
While sport is increasingly science-based, coaches often lack job security, authority, and institutional respect.
“I Had 17 Coaches in 20 Years” — A Systemic Failure
In a startling revelation, Karhana shared that he worked under 17 different coaches across his 20-year career.
“Who selects the coaches? Federations. And many times, selections come with benefits and politics,” he said candidly.
This constant churn, he explained, breaks an athlete’s rhythm, disrupts long-term planning, and destabilizes performance — a reality rarely acknowledged at the policy level.
Learning from a Belarusian Coach: Accountability Above All
Recalling his first international coaching experience with a coach from Belarus, Karhana shared a moment that shaped his outlook forever:
“He told me — OP, if you don’t win a medal, I will be the loser. That was the level of accountability.”
That coach stayed with him for only six months, but the impact, Karhana said, lasted a lifetime — a reminder of how deeply ownership and responsibility are embedded in high-performance sporting cultures abroad.
The Harsh Reality: Talent Is Identified, But Support Is Denied
Karhana highlighted a recurring crisis in Indian sport:
• A coach identifies a promising talent
• Recommends proper nutrition, medical care, and recovery
• But the system fails to deliver the support
“Any youth who has talent must be given full support — not partial promises,” he stressed.
He also drew attention to the fact that under schemes like Khelo India, many coaches receive ₹20,000 per month, questioning how long-term excellence, commitment, and stability can be built on such fragile foundations.
“It’s Not Just About Money — It’s About the System”
While financial support is important, Karhana made it clear that money alone cannot fix Indian sport.
What India truly needs, he said, is:
• Stable coaching structures
• Scientifically driven training programs
• Transparent administration
• Respect for professionals
• Long-term planning focused on Olympic gold
The Final Message: Build the Ecosystem, Not Just the Athlete
Karhana concluded with a vision that resonated strongly with athletes, coaches, and administrators at the conclave:
“Sport is an ecosystem. Everyone — the coach, the doctor, the federation, the administrator — must work together with one goal: Olympic gold for India.”
His message was not a complaint, but a call for transformation — from fragmented efforts to a unified, science-led, coach-driven system that can finally help India stand consistently on the top step of the Olympic podium.
Discussion about this post