January 16, 2023

Small Country Syndrome

With analysis of global sports as my primary hobby, I used to always worry about what I’d named, the “small country syndrome”. To me, it was a “non-superpower” country losing out on global sports domination and never quite reaching the dizzying heights that it did for a prolonged period.

The first I saw was with Uruguay in Global Football. Dominant through 1920-50, they won 2 world cups (they played only 2), 2 Olympic Golds (they played only 2) and were the champion to beat at the Copa Americas (winning 8 of the 19). They never quite touched the dizzy heights later, though they made it to the world cup semis thrice after that. Almost 70 years on the fringe.

Then with India in hockey. Clearly the best through 1928-80, they won 8 Olympic Golds (out of 12), 1 World Cup (there were only 4 held till then). Not for nothing was it our national sport. Indian slump post that in the 4 decades up until 2020 Tokyo is well documented.

Then with Pakistan in Squash. From 1950-2000, Pakistan won a staggering 31 British opens (the unofficial world championship then) in those 5 decades. Pakistan has never had global icons like the Khans in those years, the Khans accounting for all but 1 of the wins. Fast forward to this day, not a single Pakistani features in the top 50 and no Pakistani has featured in a British Open final for the last 25 years.

Then there were the Calypso kings from the Caribbeans in Cricket, 1950-2000. They not only played attacking, elegant cricket but their merry ways led to practical invincibility in between. Virtually unbeaten in test cricket for 15 years from 1978-93 and 2 world cup wins in that period. Feared bowlers, adventurous batsmen and all-round fieldsmen donned the Caribbean cap. Alas, except a few T20 championships here and there, we have lost the West Indies for good, much to cricket’s dismay.

This downfall after a strong legacy is rarely seen in other sporting powerhouses. They create a legacy for it to stay. They could have temporal lulls, but never a permanent dip.

India can buck this trend at hockey, though. 2020 Tokyo bronze was a glimmer of hope, but 2023 hockey World cup could be India’s calling to being a global superpower. Game on!