‘India’s performance very disappointing’

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Sydney: Indian chef de mission Ashok Kumar Mattoo on Friday described the country's performance at the Olympic Games a ''big disappointment''.

''What is there to say?'' Mattoo asked when his reaction was sought on the showing by the Indian sportspersons in the Olympics. After a brief pause, a visibly upset Mattoo said, ''it is very disheartening and disappointing.''

Mattoo said he expected India to win medals in hockey, tennis, boxing and weightlifting. ''But we ended up with only one bronze, thanks to Malleswari who gave such a fine performance despite so much of vicious campaign against her,'' he said.

Besides Malleswari and boxer Gurcharan Singh, the chef de mission also praised the efforts of Anjali Vedpathak, who became the first Indian to reach the final of an Olympic shooting event.

About other disciplines, he said hockey had tremendous chance, ''but we seem to have let go the opportunity. They were provided with best training and exposure, but what is the end result?''

''It is not a question of good or bad showing. You are judged ultimately on the basis of the medals you have won,'' he said and regretted that the country remained at the same place as at Atlanta four years ago.

Mattoo refused to comment on the dismal performance of the athletes. ''All those who came here had qualified for the Games. There was nothing wrong in their selection. But why they flopped here you better ask the athletic federation officials,'' he said.

He described the failure of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi in tennis doubles as a big letdown. ''We had lots of expectations from the duo.'' He said he was not expecting any great showings by the table tennis, badminton and rowing teams. ''But I also did not expect them to give up so easily.''

He felt the poor showing here by the Indians will further reduce people's interest in sports back home. ''After all how long we can keep assuring them of a good-showing? Before every Olympics, the hopes are raised only to be shattered later.''

Mattoo said winning a medal mattered the most today. ''Gone are the days when participation was more important than winning. You must have seen how passion get aroused when any athlete wins a medal.''

Asked whom would he blame for such a poor showing, Mattoo said, ''Nobody. I am the head of the family. It is I who owe the explanation to the nation.''

Matto declined to reveal anything about the report that he would have to submit to the government on India's performance at the Games here as the head of the contingent. ''I will take some time to prepare the report but I will be frank, truthful and not hesitate in pointing out the reasons for the failure,'' he assured adding that it would not be kept confidential. ''I will like the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to discuss threadbare and have a public debate on it,'' he said.

UNI