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What does the passage identify as the key reason behind India’s poor Olympic outcomes after 1980? Read the passage and answer the following questions. India’s association with the Olympics dates back to 1900, when Norman Pritchard, a British-Indian sportsperson, secured two silver medals in athletics. Yet, India’s first true team breakthrough arrived much later — at the 1928 Amsterdam Games — when the men’s hockey squad captured its maiden Olympic gold and announced India’s dominance on the world stage. Thereafter came a celebrated phase in which Indian men’s hockey ruled the Olympics, collecting eight gold medals from 1928 to 1980 — an extraordinary record. However, this brilliance did not translate into consistent overall success. After 1980, India experienced a striking medal lull, revealing deeper structural shortcomings such as weak infrastructure, insufficient training systems, and limited grassroots talent identification. Many athletes had to depend heavily on personal grit rather than organized support to reach global standards. In recent decades, though, the story has shifted towards guarded hope. With initiatives like the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and stronger corporate backing, athletes increasingly receive better coaching, nutrition planning, and mental-conditioning support. Medal counts remain moderate but have improved — highlighted by Neeraj Chopra’s landmark javelin gold at Tokyo 2020. Another encouraging development is the widening of India’s sporting footprint: progress is now visible across badminton, shooting, boxing, athletics, and more — not just hockey and wrestling. Notably, Indian women athletes have also emerged as key contributors in recent Olympic performances. Even so, converting promise into podium finishes still demands sustained funding, scientific sports planning, and a culture that values multiple sports beyond cricket. India’s Olympic identity is still taking shape, but the ambition is unmistakable: to evolve from participation to true powerhouse status.

1. Weak public enthusiasm for sports
2. Excessive dependence on cricket culture
3. Deep-rooted flaws in the sports system
4. Absence of international exposure events

Correct answer: Deep-rooted flaws in the sports system

Solution

The passage explicitly says that after 1980 India’s poor results revealed deeper structural shortcomings. These include weak infrastructure, insufficient training systems, and limited grassroots talent identification, which together point to deep-rooted flaws in the sports system.

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