Asian Games 2018: Poor states lag behind rich ones in medal tally

There is a long way to go before people from large states like Bihar, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh win medals for India

Diversity on the podium

At the recently concluded Asian Games in Indonesia, India’s medal winning athletes represented its diversity not just at the opening and closing ceremonies but also on the podium. A closer look at these medal winners represents various interesting trends. Of the 69 medals won by India, athletes representing various individual and team sports belonged to 21 states and Union Territories (UTs). More states, especially ones from Eastern and North Eastern India now contribute medal winners.  

Large states, small medals

By the look of it, India’s most socio-economically backward states that include Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have failed to produce high achieving medal winning sportspersons commensurate to their populations. Four out of every 10 Indians belong to either of these states according to India’s 2011 census. Uttar Pradesh, probably the only exception among BIMARU states and also India’s most populous state had 12 medal winners in Indonesia. Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh had three each.

The curious case of Bihar & Odisha

Of particular concern is the state of Bihar, home to 104 million people and considered to be one of the most socio-economically backward state in India. The state has failed to produce a single medal winner for India at either the recently concluded Asian Games or the Common Wealth Games held earlier this year in Australia. Reports suggest that Bihar hadn’t contributed any medal winner in the 1982 Asian Games held in India as well. Odisha which is as poor as Bihar but still managed better results

Small states, big medals

Excluding Kabaddi and Bridge, for which information on domicility of players wasn’t available, it took 130 athletes to win 64 medals for India at the Asian Games. In effect, states that represent over a third of India’s population represented just about a tenth of all medal winning athletes. On the other hand, smaller states like Kerala, Punjab and Haryana with seven per cent of India’s population accounted for 35 per cent of medal winners in Indonesia.

Rich states & poor states: The reasons for low medals

What explains this irony of demographic inconsonance relative to the nation’s sporting achievements? Among other reasons, the sporting contribution of these states to India’s rise in the sporting world is closely tied to the state of their economy and the living standards of their people. High sporting achievers certainly have a better standard of life than non-achievers. For one, high performing states like Kerala, Punjab, Haryana and Union Territories like Delhi and Chandigarh have some of the lowest poverty rates in the country. According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI), these states have an average poverty rate of nine percent – much lower than the national average of 22 per cent. Bihar which has drawn a blank over the years meanwhile has three out of ten people living below the official poverty line in India. In Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, almost a third of the population doesn’t earn enough to qualify as having moved out of poverty. Meanwhile, Delhi which has the highest per capita income in India, has contributed as many as 11 medal winners at the recently concluded Asian Games.  

Medals – not all about income

Populous states which have contributed fewer medalists also lag behind smaller higher achieving states on other parameters crucial for producing high achieving sports persons. Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have an infant mortality rate (IMR) of more than 40 per 1,000 live births. Kerala, Punjab and Delhi have single digit IMRs.  Tamil Nadu and Haryana – the other double digit medal winners have an IMR of around 11 per 1,000 live births – some of the lowest in the country. Not just do these states ensure that newly born children survive their first few months, they enjoy better healthcare and nutrition to ensure that they live longer. And healthier populations translate to better prospects of performing well at physically demanding sports. Take Kerala for instance. The state had nine medal winners – seven of them in track and field events requiring a mix of high speed and endurance. Sportspersons from Kerala like Jinson Johnson, Muhammad Anas and others bagged more than a third of the 19 medals India won in track and field events at the Asian Games. Haryana came next to Kerala in having medal winners at these races.

While the Indian government over the years has helped sportspersons with monetary help for funding their nutrition and training, the economic progress of poor and populous states could do a lot more in further enhancing the diversity of Indians occupying podiums at the highest level of world sports.