Question

Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage:

What major issue plagued India's Olympic performance post-

1980?

India's tryst with the Olympic Games began in 1900, when Norman Pritchard, a British-Indian athlete, clinched two silver medals in athletics. However, it wasn't until the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics that India emerged as a formidable force in hockey, winning its first team gold. What followed was a golden era, where the Indian men's hockey team dominated the Olympic arena with eight gold medals between 1928 and 1980-an unmatched legacy. Despite this early excellence, India's Olympic journey has been riddled with inconsistencies. Post-1980, a conspicuous medal drought gripped the nation, exposing systemic inefficiencies: lack of infrastructure, inadequate training, and minimal grassroots scouting. Athletes often relied more on personal resilience than institutional support to achieve global recognition. The 21st century, however, has ushered in a phase of cautious optimism. With the establishment of bodies like the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and increased corporate sponsorship, Indian athletes now enjoy improved access to international-level coaching, nutrition, and psychological training. The medal tallies, though modest, have seen an upward trend-symbolized by Neeraj Chopra's historic gold in javelin at Tokyo 2020. What's most heartening is the diversification of sports. No longer confined to hockey and wrestling, India is now making strides in disciplines like badminton, shooting, boxing, and athletics. Equally noteworthy is the rising representation and success of Indian women athletes, who have frequently been the torchbearers in recent Olympic outings. Yet, challenges remain. The transition from potential to podium demands long-term investment, scientific sports management, and societal encouragement that transcends cricket-centric fandom. While India's Olympic identity is still evolving, the collective ambition is clearer than ever: to transform from a participant nation into a sporting powerhouse.

• A. Limited fan interest
• B. Over-dependence on cricket
• C. Systemic inefficiencies in sports
• D. Lack of global tournaments

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Systemic inefficiencies in sports

• Direct Reference from the Text: The passage explicitly states that following the 1980 Olympics, a notable medal drought hit the country, which "exposed systemic inefficiencies: lack of infrastructure, inadequate training, and minimal grassroots scouting."

• Why it is the correct choice: The term "systemic inefficiencies" encompasses all the structural problems highlighted in the text (poor infrastructure, weak scouting, and subpar training) that directly hindered the athletes' performances on the global stage.