Super Sunday for Sports

For quite some time Indian sports fans are getting a lot to cheer about. In the past, there has been an occasional cheer because of cricket but in the recent past that too has been consistent and then suddenly sports lovers felt the dawning of a new era when there were signs of revival in hockey and football. Add to it the world crown of Vishwanathan Anand, the number of shooting achievements that came to be liberally sprinkled with the exploits oin archery and boxing and we had genuine reason to be happy.

The fact is that this nation of more than a billion has reached a stage where ‘the Dil Mange More!’ And, by the look of it the sportsmen and women seem to ready to provide more!

What a Sunday it was! First the cocky Aussies were bearded in their own den and the men who did were really the young cubs who had yet to fully establish their credentials. The World Champions had never lost to India in Melbourne during the past 22 years but then things are never the same for ever. Yes there was the Little Master Sachin Tendulkar and he performed too, and there was Virender Sehwag who is always a fear factor among the opposition but those that stood out were Ishant and Rohit Sharmas and that indomitable Sreesanth. The faces of future of Indian cricket! The manner in which Ishant and Sreesanth bowled aggressively and menacingly should be a lesson to Sreesanth for he must have realized that in order to be aggressive one need not be making faces and having a go at the opponents. Then there was Rohit Sharma who, though tense, faced the situation with the temperament of a veteran. In the end when the Kangaroos were tamed one could not help wondering if they are not the same potent force when they do not combine abusive and arrogant language to their cricketing talent?

Back home there were other battles that were being grimly fought. India were on the brink of losing their Davis Cup ties against Uzbekistan. After the unsavory controversy of Prakash Amritraj earlier in the week over his alleged night out for party that included drinks that laid him low, he was given a chance to redeem himself by playing the final match of the rubber for glory or ignominy. He played his heart out and finally won the heart of that miracle man of Davis Cup battles, non playing captain Leander Paes. It was a sight to see the victorious Prakash being hugged first by a teary eyed Paes and then a satisfied father Vijay Amritraj.

The Sunday had another drama going on at the Delhi Golf Club. The likes of Erinie Els, Darren Clarke, O’Meara had all descended to conquer the course and take away the largest ever prize money on offer in India. Not to be intimidated was the Indian contingent that included SS Chowrasia, the son of a lowly Mal who had spent much of his life living in a shack near the Calcutta Golf Club. He had picked up the art of chipping and putting early as a young caddie. Now was the time to demonstrate his talent and ability and how he did it! Beginning the final day on the fifth position he shot four under to conquer the field and with it the purse of Rs. 1.6 crores. Now he is off to compete on the European circuit.

Indeed what a day! A Super Sunday, indeed!