India in LONDON OLYMPICS 2012

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  • RonnyRonny 10546 Points
    very easy opponent for Jai Bhagwan..sadly Shiva got a tough opponent<br>
  • RonnyRonny 10546 Points
    edited July 2012
    Time to count for Tushars,
    Ignaces and Chetris (7/29/2012)<table align="right"><tbody><tr><td>--K.
    Arumugam</td></tr></tbody></table>12-year old Tushar Khandker could no longer
    resist. His parents were not allowing him to play and practice hockey.
    He ran away from home, and this kiddish instinct forced his parents to
    change their minds.
    <p>Tushar grew up with hockey. His father expired when he was a tour.
    He came back to India, returned as quick as possible, and did not miss
    out any Junior World Cup match.
    The spirit, the sacrifice, utter madness to play for the country drive
    him forever.
    Each hockey player’s story is so much of similar stuff that their
    passion and perseverance are the two wheels on which our Indian hockey
    rolls on.
    Then you know one Ignace Tirkey, the smiling assassin on the turf.
    ‘Ignace chal gaya toh India chal gaya’ (If Ignace does well, India will
    do well). This is the common refrain of Indian coaches.
    </p><p>
    When India won the Junior World Cup in 2001, I asked each gold
    medalists two names whom they feel best of the lot at Hobart.

    </p><p>Ignace was in most of the list. He made a lasting impression, it
    is his habit.
    Ignace made it to the national team after his younger brother did so;
    and the fact now is Ignace is all poised to blossom at London, while his
    sibling Prabodh would sit at home and watch his elder brother’s
    amazing longevity.

    </p><p>Ignace is typical of those from tribal land. A big family,
    living in villages without electricity, prospering now because of
    hockey.
    </p><p>
    If Tushar is the case of individual’s thirst for the sport, Ignace
    epitomizes a distant but distinct part of another part of vast Indian
    canvass – a community’s desire to rise, and hockey being the social
    instrument of change.

    </p><p>Ignace from non-descript village from the most neglected part of
    India, had been Indian national teams’ captain for many events
    including the Commonwealth Games, and he won both Arjuna and Padmashree
    in the space of one year.

    </p><p>His story does not end here.

    </p><p>I saw him in almost in tears three summers ago at Kuala Lumpur.
    He was part of the Azlan Shah team, but the coach had a doubt on his
    fitness. He was not allowed to travel further to Ipoh, and had to
    return, his plea did not cut ice. He consumed the insult with his
    characteristic humility. Perhaps only player in the team never
    complained about anything to anybody.
    That’s why the coach did not survive, Ignace did.

    </p>
  • RonnyRonny 10546 Points
    <p>Then see the case of Bharat Chetri, our charmer- in- chief in
    London.

    </p><p>He just missed 2004 number to much junior Adrian D’souza, and
    then saw with open eyes and pain the 2008 Olympic berth slipping away
    at Santiago.

    </p><p>Not many would have dared to imagine the guardian-less
    goalkeeper, who once almost seemed migrated to Malaysia, active in their
    league, gaining lot of distaff companions, would have survived to
    London, that too with the captaincy label.
    It’s a dream come true for Chetri, who has found a savior in Michael
    Nobbs, without whose patronage, he would not have scaled the height –
    first goalie to lead India at the Olympics – which he did ultimately.

    </p><p>Every coach dropped him when almost everyone thought when he was
    at his peak of form! Nobbs did not.

    </p><p>Chetri is comeback kid. Almost every alternate year of his career
    is blank, but this simpleton never gave up.

    </p><p>Their sunshine time has come.

    </p><p>Indian team at London is full of Tushars, Ignaces and Chetris.

    </p><p>Each one has his own trails and tribulations, distinct journey to
    London.

    </p><p>Indian hockey is platform for all.
    <br>Where only merit count.
    <br> Where cultures melt.
    <br>Where human barriers lose track.
    Where else you will have the scenario of Coffee-estate Coorgi merge
    with not so affluent Adiviasi; well built Haryanvi with his Punjabi
    pugree join fragile Southies, and each UPite set a style trend; no more
    than three have same mother tongue! What a cultural diversity, add to
    this the head staff, mostly from migrant's paradise Australia.
    </p><p>
    Our players hail from as big diversity as one can imagine. They made it
    to the team amidst adversity, but climbed up with sheer strength of
    merit.

    </p><p>Now the time has come for each of these gems -- many known to the
    country as stars, and a few will be so in a fortnight’s time -- to stay
    tall and count.
    </p><p>
    The country is watching hockey with enthusiasm as never before. The
    stunning final against France in the Delhi Olympic Qualifier, though
    erroneously, catapulted hockey into the top delight at the London mela.
    </p><p>
    The coach Michael Nobbs always played down the Delhi, probably it had no
    takers, as the nation again indulges in hockey glory or merry whatever.


    </p><p>The players, who toiled over a decade, together with those who
    made it on the current form, will have to deliver now to meet the
    minimum expectations of the team.
    None would like the story of missed chances, any longer, any more. The
    world is mercilessly professional. Emotion has limited role.

    </p><p>Our players can meet the expectations, and are well tuned to turn
    in a stellar show.
    Two things are clear. Firstly, players are ready to give their best.
    Secondly, the nation fully backs them.
    </p><p>
    A victory therefore will be considered and counted more than that.

    </p><p>Our players deserve to scale what you set out to. We are there
    with you, and go all out.

    Our Tushars, our Ignaces, our Chetris deserve their place in the moon,
    and it is rising in the land of 'no sun'.
    </p>
  • RonnyRonny 10546 Points
    The real match is today-India vs Netherlands hockey at 8.30 pm IST<br>
  • ashindiaashindia 9479 Points
    Gagan wins Indias first medal a bronze well done
  • RonnyRonny 10546 Points
    Now hockey team pls come up with a miracle win..pls team we so desperately need this win <br>
  • shankarshankar 2600 Points
    Gagan narang got 2 more events to go.....50 m rifle prone and 50m rifle 3 position(his fav one as i once read in a  newspaper) these two are less competitive than 10m rifle<div><br></div><div>I have a feeling that he will become the first indian player to win double or more medal in single olympics</div> :-w
  • ashindiaashindia 9479 Points
    shankar wrote: »
    Gagan narang got 2 more events to go.....50 m rifle prone and 50m rifle 3 position(his fav one as i once read in a  newspaper) these two are less competitive than 10m rifle<div><br></div><div>I have a feeling that he will become the first indian player to win double or more medal in single olympics</div> :-w

    <br><br>Hope for the best,he has give an start to India hope rest get their job done.<br>
  • ashindiaashindia 9479 Points
    Going by performance India needs to invest more in sports and perform much better than what they are doing now.Yes they are improving by each passing year but it should be faster.<br><br>Look at China seriously they are everywhere,India should be the same in future Olympics. <br>
  • ashindiaashindia 9479 Points
    So Bhagwan Singh will be action in 30 more mins, hope the 19 year old youngster does well in 81kg category Boxing. <br><br>Then we have the big one India vs Netherlands(Hockey) and later the Badminton matches involving Saina(which she will win easily) and the Womens doubles Jawla/Ashwini against strong Taiwan. <br>
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