27 Aug 2008

India hope Beijing medals can spark change

9:13 am on 27 August 2008

India's best Olympic Games amounted to three medals - not many, perhaps, for the world's second most populous nation but sports chiefs believe the performance will spark future success for the country.

Athletes are not so sure, saying poor coaching, bad organisation and a lack of money will continue to hold India back.

India once relied on their men's hockey team for success but the eight-times champions failed to qualify this time.

Instead, the India team won their first solo gold medal through rifle shooter Abhinav Bindra, plus bronzes for freestyle wrestler Sushil Kumar and middleweight boxer Vijender Kumar.

The next Commonwealth Games are in New Delhi.