The myth might just be over.

Even though cricket as a sport has seized the national imagination of India, other sports like boxing, weightlifting, rowing, shooting, swimming and even gymnastics might dominate the Indian sporting arena soon.

Following the XIX Commonwealth Games, India witnessed 101 medals coming in from different sporting categories, categories that were once considered as accomplishments that Indians would take decades to actually fit in. Despite the usual problems of sports administrative bodies and government departments to do everything but promote athletes, success or failure now seems to be dependent on the individual athlete. It is the newly globalize attitude of both the strength and the resources to compete, that most Indian athletes are currently aspiring for. The ongoing XVI Asian Games in Guangzhou, China is yet another example of how India is slowly breaking its norms from conventional sports. A few of what the country have achieved so far at the Asian Games: Sandhyarani Devi Wangkhem silver medalist in 60kg shanshou category, Bajrang Lal Takhar won the gold in men’s single sculls category, Commonwealth champion Dinesh Kumar assured himself a medal entering the light heavyweight 81kg semifinals and Vijender Singh stormed into the 75kg boxing quarterfinals. Glorious achievements and a breakthrough in Indian sports.

Let’s not forget that India is a developing country and that sports is one aspect that no doubt needs a make over. Yet, it is promising that we have at least seen a few symptoms that would elevate not only cricket but other sports too. There is light at the end of the tunnel.