Asian weight lifting

by **guni** on Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:04 pm

Agree with you that the US found a good system, where athletics and education can be combined. A lot of kids get a chance at a good education due to their athletic ability, which is a positive thing.

As for lack of motivation in England, I can't speak for it as I never lived there. What I can say is that such conditions occur in most countries due to lack of a proper system. That's what the US has, and it's what China, former Soviet Union, have. Different systems? yes, but organized systems none the less.

by **Quash** on Sun Feb 17, 2008 9:51 pm

@ Charlie - I studied a lot of Asian culture in college, southeast Asian particularly. I toyed with the idea of going to Singapore or Hong Kong for a while, but haven't made it out there yet.

In my experience, high school athletes tend to do better grade wise than non-jocks. The drive to succeed translates well from one arena to another.

by **dragon** on Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:51 am

guni:Russ, I wouldn't say there's a lack of great athletes. It's just that most kids are going to try out for the biggest sport in their country. Take the US for example. How many guys with ridiculous genetics do you there are in football, that would've been great weightlifters. I mean, there's guys in there weighing over 100kg, ripped and powerful. But they gravitated to the biggest sport. In China, and the former Soviet Union, it's about gymnastics and weightlifting. So everyone gravitates towards these disciplines. Add the fact that there are huge populations, it's strongly supported by government, and, as Mehdi said, it's the only way out of poverty. That's pretty much a recipe to find some gifted people. Elite athletes work their asses off no matter where they're from. The sport that is most popular in each country will take the most gifted athletes. Be it by free choice or because you're driven into it young like in China. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that each country's dominance, or excellence, in a given sport is due to its popularity. Therefore attracting a larger population of young athletes to select from. It is not due to some magic formula, harder work than normal, or anything of that sort.

You're right. I bet there's a bunch of chinese basketball players somewhere in China discussing and marvelling over the power and athleticism of American players in the NBA.

by **mackanno** on Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:05 am

Just a note to all of you to express my admiration for the way we discuss topics in this web site. It is great when discussions are done with such respect and grace.
Congrats to all of you guys.

by **KIB** on Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:16 am

mackanno:
Just a note to all of you to express my admiration for the way we discuss topics in this web site. It is great when discussions are done with such respect and grace.
Congrats to all of you guys.

Seconded! What a difference.

by **Nilan666** on Wed Oct 29, 2008 11:15 am

I guess i'm a bit in the mood of opening up old forgotten topics. :mrgreen:

Well i'm from India and answering Charlies' question directly, sports is NOT an option in the country.It is not looke upon as something respectable. There's no focus whatsoever in sport. In fact the word sport doesnt even exist in the common Indian's dictionary. If you ever choose to take up sport as a career here in India, you'll be dead long before you know it, unless of course you happen to be a cricketer, which brings me to another good point made in here that it's the most popular sport in the particular country which sucks up the majority of the sports persons.

Cricket is a big bad bully in the country. Everyone from the wannabe Sachin Tendulakars to slum dwelling undernourished chilren, aspire to be a cricketer in this country. Why? Because cricket spells instant transformation into a demi god and name and fortune. The Indian cricket board,BCCI, is supposedly richer than the world governing body of cricket, ICC.

This where all the world of difference in exceling at particualr sport comes up. How your country views your chosen sport, whether there is a gurantee of a future, whether your country even respects sports, it all makes a difference.

I personally know a brilliantly gifted athlete, his 100m was 10.73 at 17 years of age and long jump 7.52metre. He's never trained . NEVER. He's never done plyometrics. Never even hit the weight room. He's a complete natural. If he were to put in the effort which athletes normally do i wouldn't be surprised if he hit World Record times upon maturing.
But he'll never practise and train simply because there is no future. A country like ours with a billion plus population has actually surplus talent. But it's never harnessed. It's never encouraged. Whether by parents, school,college, government. Nothing.

For all the talk of India becoming a superpower, i say it's all a load of crap. China yes,possible. India no never. Sports and physical prowess has never been a part of our history,never will be, That's why you'll find Indians in highly skilled professions of doctors,surgeons,scientists etc but never as sportspersons.

China on the other hand will continue to excel because its history has always emphasised a balance of both physical and mental powers.