Unlucky? 6 medals amongst 1.2bn people!

India on Monday tried to look on the bright side after collecting just six medals and no golds at the Olympics, saying that the modest haul was a record and efforts were already under way to improve.

The country has a dire history at the Olympics, winning only one individual gold medal, in Beijing in 2008, and this year finishing a lowly 55th in the overall medals table, sandwiched between Venezuela and Mongolia.

But the government and media hailed the two silvers and four bronzes brought home by India, which has enjoyed rapid economic development over the past two decades and has a booming population of 1.2 billion people.

"India was unlucky as many of the players were placed in the top ten, some even fourth or fifth," Sports Minister Ajay Maken told reporters. "It is a proud moment for us as this is our best-ever medal haul."

He added that improved training programmes were now in place and that India should look to win at least 25 medals by 2020.

"Tally Ho: India returns biggest-ever medal haul at the Olympics," declared the Mail Today, while the NDTV station said the six gongs -- double the collection in Beijing -- had triggered nationwide celebrations.

But the Hindustan Times gave a more downbeat assessment, saying that it was a poor outcome for one of the world's most vibrant economies. Asian rival China, with a similarly vast population and growing affluence, brought home 87 medals.

"Even by the country's modest sporting standards, it is a story of under-achievement," the newspaper wrote in an editorial.

"To make a mark at the Olympics, we need to emulate countries at par with us economically, not the ones we've left behind."

Optimism over India's prospects in London 2012 grew after shooter Abhinav Bindra won the 10m air rifle in Beijing, making history as the country's first individual gold medallist.

Several government and privately funded schemes poured money into finding future stars, but the search turned up little to impress the world audience gathered in London.

Wrestler Sushil Kumar and pistol shooter Vijay Kumar won silvers, while wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, rifle marksman Gagan Narang, woman boxer Mary Kom and badminton star Saina Nehwal collected bronzes.

Bindra failed to get through the qualifying round.

India's hockey team -- which once dominated the Olympics with eight golds -- also showed no signs of returning to the top.

"It can't get worse, our hockey is dead," said former goalkeeper Leslie Claudius, who played in four consecutive Olympics from 1948 to 1960.

Despite the lavish cash prizes and jobs promised to medallists, the Olympics remains a low priority in a country obsessed by cricket.

One leading businessman laced his congratulations with a call for change.

"We are proud of our Olympic medallists, but enough of this humiliation of 6 medals amongst 1.2bn people," Anand Mahindra tweeted

In Pics:Grand Olympic Closing Ceremony on Aug 13, 2012

Closing Ceremony of London Olympic Games in London on August 12, 2012. Rio de Janeiro will host the 2016 Olympic Games.

Sushil Kumar loses final bout, settles for silver

NEW DELHI: Indian wrestler Sushil Kumar lost his 66kg freestyle final against Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu of Japan 1-3 and settled for silver medal at the London Olympics on Sunday.

Sushil became the first Indian to win two individual Olympic medals as he improved on the bronze medal he won at the Beijing Games four years ago.

The medal soured India's tally to a record six (2 silver and 4 bronze), doubling the Beijing tally four years ago.

Sushil had a tough start to his London 2012 campaign, beating 2008 gold medallist Ramazan Sahin of Turkey 3-1.

There are no seedings in Olympic wrestling and the luck of the draw saw Kumar paired against fellow former world champion Sahin in the last 16.

In his quarterfinal bout, Sushil overcame Uzbekistan's Ikhtiyor Navruzov, also by a 3-1 margin, after surviving a spirited rally by his opponent with some quick counters and strong lifts.

Sushil came from behind in his last four clash in spectacular style. Having won the first period against Akzhurek Tanatarov of Kazakhstan, Sushil saw his semifinal opponent level and then go 3-0 ahead in the third and final period.

But Sushil countered with a hold down initially worth two points, which he converted into a three-point score to tie the match. And with 34 seconds left he'd edged 5-3 in front.

Then, with just seconds of the contest remaining, Sushil sealed victory with a huge throw that saw him dump Tanatarov onto the mat.

Pietersen dropped over text messages

Kevin Pietersen has been omitted from the England squad for the final Test against South Africa at Lord's, the morning after releasing a video where he committed himself to all international cricket, because he has failed to confirm that he did not send derogatory texts about Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower to South Africa players.

The squad announcement had been delayed by five hours following the release of the video by Pietersen on Saturday evening, where he came out of ODI retirement and said he would not play a full IPL, following a week where he has dominated the agenda in the wake of his press conference on Monday after the Headingley Test had finished.

In the nine-minute video he claimed that dressing-room issues, which had come to a head over the last week, had been sorted out after a phone call with one team-mate and that he 'loved' playing for England. But it is understood that the ECB were not aware that he was going to release the video.

However, the key issue for the management remained the text messages and the delay in naming the squad was to allow Pietersen to provide clarity to them which he has failed to do. Jonny Bairstow, the Yorkshire batsman, who played against West Indies has been recalled.

Managing director of England Cricket, Hugh Morris, said: "During the past week we have held several discussions with Kevin Pietersen and his advisors. Following a constructive meeting it was agreed that a number of actions needed to be completed to re-engage Kevin within the England dressing room.

"A fundamental item was to confirm publicly that no derogatory texts had been sent by Kevin to the South African team. This has not been forthcoming despite clear timelines being set to allow the Selectors to pick the squad for the third Investec Test match. We provided an additional six hours this morning to provide every opportunity for agreement to be reached but regrettably this has not been possible.

"The success of the England team has been built on a unity of purpose and trust. Whilst we have made every attempt to find a solution to enable Kevin to be selected we have sadly had to conclude that, in the best interest of the team, he will miss the Lord's Test."

National selector, Geoff Miller, added: "We need a squad fully focussed on this Test match to be able to play the sort of cricket we know is necessary if we are to win this week and level the series. "

Squad Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, James Taylor, Jonny Bairstow, Matt Prior, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Graham Onions

'You need players like Bhajji in the team' - Gautam Gambhir

New Delhi: Gautam Gambhir is not reading much into being named as vice-captain for the T20 Internationals against New Zealand and the World T20.

"Your responsibilities and commitment towards the team don't change with change in designation. I am not in the team for my vice-captaincy. I am in the team to score runs and win matches for my country," Gambhir said.

Gambhir welcomed the inclusion of Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh in the squad. "Yuvraj has been a match-winner and it is great to see him back in the team."

"As to whether the mood of the dressing room will be upbeat with Yuvraj coming back, I believe it's not dependent on any particular individual. It is about collective effort which constitutes each and every member of the team," he said.

"I am happy that Harbhajan is in the squad because in big tournaments, you need players like him. He has played 98 Tests and 229 ODIs...He is a big-occasion man."

He seemed a bit miffed when asked whether Piyush Chawla is in the team because he is a "lucky mascot" for the World Cup squad, having been a part of the 2011 team.

"I have never believed in luck and lucky mascots. For me, there is only one thing that can ensure you success at the highest level - hard work. I will always remain a firm believer that there can't be any substitute for sheer hard work."

The senior opener admitted that his recent string of good scores in Sri Lanka will act as a morale booster, but that will be of little consequence when they play the World Twenty20.

"World T20 will be a different ball game altogether but we have played so many times in Sri Lanka that we are aware about the conditions there."

Talking about the necessity to adapt while having to quickly switch formats, Gambhir said that the two T20 Internationals against New Zealand will be crucial.

"Yes, we will be playing Test cricket next but then we will be playing a couple of T20 Internationals. Also once, we reach Sri Lanka, we will be playing a few more T20 practice games.

Before the tournament starts, we would have played four to five T20 matches and that would serve as good enough preparation for the World Cup."

Gambhir was confident that the younger crop of Indian players would make full use of the opportunities, which they would be getting due to Rahul Dravid's retirement.

"It's not easy to replace someone like Rahul Dravid. But if you talk about how life will be without Dravid's presence in the dressing room after 16 long years, then the same question would have arisen when greats of yesteryears had also retired. I wish, whoever replaces Dravid, is able to make full use of the opportunities," he stated.

Gambhir didn't name any particular player as to who he thinks would be an ideal No.3 batsman in Tests. "We have lot of talented batsmen. It can be Virat, (Ajinkya) Rahane or (Cheteshwar) Pujara all of whom have done well."

M S Dhoni Twitter Pics

Stunning Underwater Pics from the Olympics