BANGKOK. Dec 11 (AP): Are former British colonies playing too much cricket and ignoring other sports?
As Asia's version of the Olympics, the Asian Games, reach its midpoint, the performance of nine former British colonies, including the world's second most populous nation India, is nothing but dismal.
The Indian team did not even get into the medal standings until five days into the 41 -nation competition, when a woman weightlifter and a team of horse riders won a silver and a bronze.
The Indian team went into Friday s events placed 21st among the 24 teams, to have won medals. Even the small Himalayan country of Nepal. India's northern neighbour, was one step above with one silver and two bronzes.
In contrast China, where cricket is generally not played because the British empire was never there, had grabbed 50 gold. 35 silver and 23 bronze medals — a total of 108 medals — by the end of Thursday's events.
All the nine nations that were under British colonial rule have together won just one gold, seven silvers and 10 bronzes in the first five days.
Their combined medal tally is lower than that for Kazakstan, a former Soviet republic, which by midday Friday had captured 11 golds. 11 silvers and 16 bronzes.
Hong Kong, handed over to China last year from British rule, doesn’t have India's
poverty problems, but has only 6 million people. It has won three bronze medals.
Pakistan so far has been the "jewel in the crown" with one gold. But that gold was won not by a resident Pakistani, but by Shokat Ali, born in Blackburn. Lancashire, a county in northern England where he still lives. He speaks English with a heavy northern English accent , with no trace of his origin.
Another gold for Pakistan is certain Saturday. Compatriots Amjad Khan and Zara’q Jehan are playing in the men's squash final.
Malaysia has three silvers and three bronzes.
Bangladesh, Brunei and Sri Lanka have yet to win medals.
India was one of the founder members of the Asian Games and was host for the first one in New Delhi in 1951, four years after the British divided: the subcontinent and India and Pakistan were born as independent nations.
"We are trying our best to win medals and will surely win some in the coming events," said Gurudyal Singh Mander, leader of the Indian delegation.
Among India's prospect are men’s field hockey, tennis, shooting. billiards and kabaddi.
In India, home to 980 million people, it is cricket taught by the British that has become the No. 1 sport. Cricketers flash new cars, houses and money, whereas other athletes just try to survive by getting two square meals a day after their days of glory are over.