Commonwealth Games 2018, Gold Coast, Australia, April 5-14

[sameerph]

Yes, there is no doubt that this was our best ever games, better than Delhi one too.

As far as rowing is concerned, it is a less deep sport but it requires length (in the bigger boats the optimal optimal height is around 6-3 to 6-8) and core strength, so not sure Indians (or Chinese) are particularly suited for it except perhaps in the light weight categories where I don't think there are many Olympic events.

True, in Rio, China only won 2 bronze medals and no other Asian country won a medal and in Canoeing/Kayaking,no Asian country won a medal at Rio. We are behind China in rowing and Canoeing/Kayaking and China itself barely wins medals in these sports in olympics. So, it will be a long haul for us to win medals in these sports in olympics. We may be a little close to world level in table tennis although I agree there too it will be very hard to get someone to be in top 8 or sports in a short time to be a medal contender at olympics but more probable than rowing/kanoing/kayaking,IMO.

[rajitghosh]

To get someone in the top 8 in a short period of time you need a coach like Gopi, a world class academy and dedicated pupils like Saina and Sindhu.
The one good academy India had in tennis is now closed though it managed to produce a legend called Leander.

[Mugundan]

What the hell is going on?

Two Indian athletes banned from Commonwealth Games after needles discovered

Mugu...where are you?

- Varma

The fact that needles were found is disturbing, but not surprising. Indian athletics continues to be dope-aided. Thus there will be major swings in performances. This CWG also showed such swings. And they will be there in the Jakarta Asian Games also later this year. Except for the performance of Neeraj Chopra in Gold Coast, I will take all other Indian performances in athletics only with a pinch of salt. From 16.26 in 2016, triple jumper Rakesh Babu (the man who was kicked out of CWG for coming up with a needle in his bag) improved to 16.52 in 2017(his next best that year was 16.08!), climbed to 16.59 in Indian GP this season, dropped to 16.24 in Fed Cup and dropped again to 15.98 to place 12th and last in qualification in CWG. Then, just as the 'needle story' was breaking AFI stated he had pulled out of the final because of an injury.