Rising New Zealand: How an island conquered the world

NEW DELHI: The total population of New Zealand is nearly as much as that of Gorakhpur and Noida combined. That is, around 50 lakh. At the same time, India’s population is 280 times more than that, but the cricket team of that country not only defeated us in the final of the World Test Championship, but also managed a sweeping victory against Team India last year and removed India from the first place in the world Test ranking. Now they are World No. 1 in ICC rankings. This team has added a new chapter in the history of Test cricket of 144 years by defeating India in the final of the World Test Championship. New Zealand entered the final of the ICC Trophy for the third time in six years and now the team led by Kane Williamson has managed to win this time.

Joseph ParkerValerie AdamsKane Williamson and Ross Taylor guide NZ to WTC titleIndian batting collapse on the fifth day of the World Test Championship final match between New Zealand and India, at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Tuesday.

New Zealand has had several great players. John Wright, the former coach of Team India, was a superb batsman of this country. In the 1980s, New Zealand had one of the greatest fastest bowlers in cricket history, Sir Richard Hadlee. Mark Greatbatch was a wonderful opening batsman, who started the tradition of hitting in the early overs in ODI. Later Brendon McCullum changed the nature of world cricket with his explosive batting; today he is a coach of KKR in IPL. Similarly Stephen Fleming is the coach of CSK. Last but not least, one can never forget Kane Williamson and his contribution in New Zealand cricket.

This small country is number one in cricket, number two in rugby. The team here has also won the gold medal in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. The number of medals India has won in Olympics in the century, this country won the same number of medals by participating in only two Olympics. In the Rio Olympics, this team won four gold, nine silver and five bronze medals. NZ won two gold medals in rowing and one gold each in canoeing and sailing in these games.

The rest of the medals they won in cycling, athletics and golf. Valerie Adams, a shot putter from the same country, has so far won two gold and one silver medal in the Olympics. She also has four gold in the World Championship and three in the Commonwealth Games. New Zealand›s Joseph Parker won the hearts of everyone by winning the WBO heavyweight title in 2016.

This brings us to the question: What is the sports model of New Zealand? Actually, the secret of success behind this is to choose only seven to eight sports and master them, whereas in India, the situation is completely different. Being an Olympian here is  considered a big achievement, which proves helpful in getting a government job.

Even the President of the Indian Olympic Association, Narendra Batra, does not talk about increasing the number of medals. Their aim is to participate in all 28 Olympic sports.

Unless this  thinking changes and qualifying only is not made the main criteria but bringing the Olympic medal does not become the biggest objective, India cannot reach above one or two or at most six medals.