NEW DELHI: The 2010 Commonwealth Games Final is still a nightmare. The Tokyo Olympics mauling was dispiriting. Nothing changed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The big-match hoodoo against Australia still remains. 8-0, 7-1, 7-0. No one but the world No. 1 Aussies continue to come up with tennis-like scorelines against India to win matches that really matter.
A professional set-up over the last decade has helped India grow on and off the field. A climb back up to the Olympic podium and entering the top five of world rankings are plaudits worth showing off. Players have made fortunes. But whenever India thought it was carrying cannonballs to shoot at Australia on the big stage, they failed to load.
