Which is the sport that has roused to second position in India’s sports history?
To the above question, ones mind may wander across the various sports played in our country. You may try to find answer in Individual sporting events as well as team sports. From the most famed sportsperson to the others those who are less fortunate. You may weigh sports for its popularity, glamour, skills, money involved, victories etc. etc. Sports such as Hockey, Tennis, Football, Badminton and Motorcar racing will cross your mind along with some others like Boxing, Shooting and Wrestling for the recent Olympic medals. We are not discussing the number One sport here. Even we are not thinking about it. It is already discussed aplenty vide all media.
Press ‘rewind’ button on your memory chip. Get twelve years behind. Go back to year 1996. India found a ‘Gem’ of a sportsperson in that year. The event was the Olympics held at Atlanta. The only hope for the Olympic medal was from the Pargat Singh lead Hockey team. The other sportsperson were just for representation. Till the mid part of that Olympic most of our fortune-hunter sportspersons were back. Most struggled to pass the first hurdle. Now hope and pressure on Hockey team doubled for the medal. Pargat Singh tried his best. Then one morning suddenly news broke that the Indian Hockey team has crashed out of the Atlanta Olympics. India was destined to return medal-less from Atlanta as it did for many years. But for one man the Olympics was not over. A golden rule in Surfing is to catch the biggest wave and to ride under it. He followed the rule. He took the world head on. Fought like a champion. And to everyone’s astonishment he brought an individual medal for India. He is non-other than the Bronze medalist of Atlanta Olympics, the legendary tennis player, Leander Paes. He broke the Indian jinx of returning medal-less from Olympics. Then started an era which has its fruits ripped at the recently concluded Beijing 2008 Olympics where India won 3 medals in individual sporting events.
In the semi final match of the Atlanta Olympics, Leander was up against the mighty Andre Aagasi. He was simply blown away by the strength of his opponent. The first set was won by Aagasi in no time and the fate of the match was more or less written. Experts commented about the semi final tie to be heading for a one side event. But the true warrior fights till the last drop of his blood and so did Leander. He stormed Aagasi away with his superb tennis to win the second set by Six games to NIL. In this game itself India unearths their upcoming tennis hero. Everyone was stunned by Leander’s performance in the second set. Now the expectation increased in the deciding set. Experts commented that Leander needs to break Aagasi early in the set. It didn’t happen. Both held their serves for consecutive four games. At 4-4 Aagasi, and a true champion he is, roused his game beyond Leander’s reach and won the next two consecutive games to trash Leander’s & India’s dream. During the press conference Aagasi praised Leander’s effort. He was amazed by the guile of Leander’s tennis. On Paes’s turn he spoke about being disappointed for the loss but made it clear that the medal is coming India’s way. When a man decides, the result is achieved. Very often success and failure has a narrow separating line wherein the fate depends on the decision. That day Leander decided the medal. Following day the history was recorded. Without much of support, Leander single handedly chiseled a golden path of Indian tennis. More than the practice sessions and the physical input, the achieved-result was for his determination, for this dream, for his discipline and for his commitment. Soon he became the wonder boy of Indian sports fraternity.
Tennis for the first time was taken seriously by the Sports Governing people of our country. Sponsor’s brought in huge funds and facilities for the upcoming players. The Indian youth was adding a tennis flavor in their kitty bag. The image of Tennis being played ‘post-retirement’ started to change. Many academies were established. In next few years International tennis tournaments started to be organized in India. All accredited to one man, Leander Paes. Olympic is said to be for the dreamers. For the visionaries. We have witnessed it here in India. One medal changes it all.
The stage was set for young Indians to blossom in the tennis arena. Mahesh Bhupati came out to be the most excellent output. Unlike the guile and class of Paes, Mahesh was a power player. He had a stronger service then Leander. The fore-hand, the back-hand were better too. But was bit lesser in tactics as compared to Leander. And the tennis champions are not power gamers but the intelligent ones. They both were a perfect match for Doubles. Within a year the Indian-duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati were competing in the finals of the most prestigious tennis tournament held at the Wimbledon, England. They won the first ever grand slam for India by defeating the best pair of the world.
Years that followed were as sweet as a dream for both of them. All the major tournaments held across the globe were conquered. The best of doubles were defeated. May it be on Grass or on Clay or on Synthetic courts. The Indian tennis-doubles pair of Leander & Mahesh steeply roused to top of the world ranking. They were destined to stay their strong and long. Along the way, mighty oppositions were brought down individually as well. The most renowned being the loss of Goran Ivanisevic during a Davis cup tie to Leander Paes. The Indian national flag was flying high almost in all the tennis tournaments. The tactful yet powerful Indian tennis took the world by surprise. Literally no challenge existed for 3 long years.
With the victories came Name, Fame, Money and sadly it invited the indifferences too. They kept feeding the worst enemy of success, Ego. Once friends had now turned foes. They somehow dragged their pair until year 2000. Then differences were publicly spoken. One day the criticism reached extreme and they divorced their partnership. A sad chapter of Indian tennis, for that matter of Indian sports, was written that day. It all ended as a decaying of Royal Empire. The richness and the glory were surpassed. No adhesive could bind the broken hearts together. During the same time Sania Mirza rocked the tennis world. Her admission was so welcoming that the fight of maestros was forgotten.
Both selected different partners. As expected they went away from the winners’ podium. And they stayed away from it for long. Olympic of 2000 held at Sydney was no exception. For the countries cause the two played together. But they surely lacked intent of playing with each other and crashed out in the early stages playing tennis that was foreign to them playing as a team. India’s only Gold medal chance was dented. The high hope and dream of every Indian was shattered. Tennis as a game lost too as the most eligible pair didn’t flourish this beautiful game. Partnership is all about empowering on other person’s lacking and together running the show. But the true essence of it was degraded.
The indifferences continued after the Sydney Olympics too. Everyone wanted the pair of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati playing together instead against. Few people pitched in as mediator to resolve the differences. Later with consent of few other players and for the countries as well as personal cause they partnered again. Slowly and steadily the upward path was caught. In months that followed it seemed like the two are back again. Again the Grand slams were won. The best of the best were defeated. The Indian flag swirled proudly. Meanwhile the age was catching them. Tennis is the game more to be conquered in youth. As the days pass, the physique disintegrates and asks more from the body. Exception such as Martina Navrotilova and Andre Aagasi exist. But for Leander and Mahesh fitness soon became a matter of concern. Their noble efforts of playing class one tennis was frequently interrupted. During the same time young pairs around world would easily overcome their challenge. The downturn they provided for the champions during their uprising period was now self-witnessed. They had lost their prime and it was evident from their disintegrating game.
Olympics held at Athens in 2004 again roused the expectations and hopes of every Indian from Leander and Mahesh. Almost all were expecting a miracle from the two and a first Gold medal for India other than Hockey. They made an electrifying start for the tournament. Without much effort the initial rounds were surpassed. In the quarter final match the two fought very hard. The game they played on that day was a memorable one. Their youth was remembered. The power, the exuberance, the strength they displayed was simply great. But unfortunately the younger opponents fought for long. The match was lost. The dreams were shattered again. But the spirit of the game remained intact as the former champions fought like one.
The indifferences caused between Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati caused India a Gold medal at Sydney Olympics. Their effort to turn around things at Athens Olympics failed. What would have been a cake walk in Sydney was a nightmare in Athens. A Bronze won at Atlanta stirred-up the entire sports system. Gold at Sydney would have simply served better.
To the above question, ones mind may wander across the various sports played in our country. You may try to find answer in Individual sporting events as well as team sports. From the most famed sportsperson to the others those who are less fortunate. You may weigh sports for its popularity, glamour, skills, money involved, victories etc. etc. Sports such as Hockey, Tennis, Football, Badminton and Motorcar racing will cross your mind along with some others like Boxing, Shooting and Wrestling for the recent Olympic medals. We are not discussing the number One sport here. Even we are not thinking about it. It is already discussed aplenty vide all media.
Press ‘rewind’ button on your memory chip. Get twelve years behind. Go back to year 1996. India found a ‘Gem’ of a sportsperson in that year. The event was the Olympics held at Atlanta. The only hope for the Olympic medal was from the Pargat Singh lead Hockey team. The other sportsperson were just for representation. Till the mid part of that Olympic most of our fortune-hunter sportspersons were back. Most struggled to pass the first hurdle. Now hope and pressure on Hockey team doubled for the medal. Pargat Singh tried his best. Then one morning suddenly news broke that the Indian Hockey team has crashed out of the Atlanta Olympics. India was destined to return medal-less from Atlanta as it did for many years. But for one man the Olympics was not over. A golden rule in Surfing is to catch the biggest wave and to ride under it. He followed the rule. He took the world head on. Fought like a champion. And to everyone’s astonishment he brought an individual medal for India. He is non-other than the Bronze medalist of Atlanta Olympics, the legendary tennis player, Leander Paes. He broke the Indian jinx of returning medal-less from Olympics. Then started an era which has its fruits ripped at the recently concluded Beijing 2008 Olympics where India won 3 medals in individual sporting events.
In the semi final match of the Atlanta Olympics, Leander was up against the mighty Andre Aagasi. He was simply blown away by the strength of his opponent. The first set was won by Aagasi in no time and the fate of the match was more or less written. Experts commented about the semi final tie to be heading for a one side event. But the true warrior fights till the last drop of his blood and so did Leander. He stormed Aagasi away with his superb tennis to win the second set by Six games to NIL. In this game itself India unearths their upcoming tennis hero. Everyone was stunned by Leander’s performance in the second set. Now the expectation increased in the deciding set. Experts commented that Leander needs to break Aagasi early in the set. It didn’t happen. Both held their serves for consecutive four games. At 4-4 Aagasi, and a true champion he is, roused his game beyond Leander’s reach and won the next two consecutive games to trash Leander’s & India’s dream. During the press conference Aagasi praised Leander’s effort. He was amazed by the guile of Leander’s tennis. On Paes’s turn he spoke about being disappointed for the loss but made it clear that the medal is coming India’s way. When a man decides, the result is achieved. Very often success and failure has a narrow separating line wherein the fate depends on the decision. That day Leander decided the medal. Following day the history was recorded. Without much of support, Leander single handedly chiseled a golden path of Indian tennis. More than the practice sessions and the physical input, the achieved-result was for his determination, for this dream, for his discipline and for his commitment. Soon he became the wonder boy of Indian sports fraternity.
Tennis for the first time was taken seriously by the Sports Governing people of our country. Sponsor’s brought in huge funds and facilities for the upcoming players. The Indian youth was adding a tennis flavor in their kitty bag. The image of Tennis being played ‘post-retirement’ started to change. Many academies were established. In next few years International tennis tournaments started to be organized in India. All accredited to one man, Leander Paes. Olympic is said to be for the dreamers. For the visionaries. We have witnessed it here in India. One medal changes it all.
The stage was set for young Indians to blossom in the tennis arena. Mahesh Bhupati came out to be the most excellent output. Unlike the guile and class of Paes, Mahesh was a power player. He had a stronger service then Leander. The fore-hand, the back-hand were better too. But was bit lesser in tactics as compared to Leander. And the tennis champions are not power gamers but the intelligent ones. They both were a perfect match for Doubles. Within a year the Indian-duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati were competing in the finals of the most prestigious tennis tournament held at the Wimbledon, England. They won the first ever grand slam for India by defeating the best pair of the world.
Years that followed were as sweet as a dream for both of them. All the major tournaments held across the globe were conquered. The best of doubles were defeated. May it be on Grass or on Clay or on Synthetic courts. The Indian tennis-doubles pair of Leander & Mahesh steeply roused to top of the world ranking. They were destined to stay their strong and long. Along the way, mighty oppositions were brought down individually as well. The most renowned being the loss of Goran Ivanisevic during a Davis cup tie to Leander Paes. The Indian national flag was flying high almost in all the tennis tournaments. The tactful yet powerful Indian tennis took the world by surprise. Literally no challenge existed for 3 long years.
With the victories came Name, Fame, Money and sadly it invited the indifferences too. They kept feeding the worst enemy of success, Ego. Once friends had now turned foes. They somehow dragged their pair until year 2000. Then differences were publicly spoken. One day the criticism reached extreme and they divorced their partnership. A sad chapter of Indian tennis, for that matter of Indian sports, was written that day. It all ended as a decaying of Royal Empire. The richness and the glory were surpassed. No adhesive could bind the broken hearts together. During the same time Sania Mirza rocked the tennis world. Her admission was so welcoming that the fight of maestros was forgotten.
Both selected different partners. As expected they went away from the winners’ podium. And they stayed away from it for long. Olympic of 2000 held at Sydney was no exception. For the countries cause the two played together. But they surely lacked intent of playing with each other and crashed out in the early stages playing tennis that was foreign to them playing as a team. India’s only Gold medal chance was dented. The high hope and dream of every Indian was shattered. Tennis as a game lost too as the most eligible pair didn’t flourish this beautiful game. Partnership is all about empowering on other person’s lacking and together running the show. But the true essence of it was degraded.
The indifferences continued after the Sydney Olympics too. Everyone wanted the pair of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati playing together instead against. Few people pitched in as mediator to resolve the differences. Later with consent of few other players and for the countries as well as personal cause they partnered again. Slowly and steadily the upward path was caught. In months that followed it seemed like the two are back again. Again the Grand slams were won. The best of the best were defeated. The Indian flag swirled proudly. Meanwhile the age was catching them. Tennis is the game more to be conquered in youth. As the days pass, the physique disintegrates and asks more from the body. Exception such as Martina Navrotilova and Andre Aagasi exist. But for Leander and Mahesh fitness soon became a matter of concern. Their noble efforts of playing class one tennis was frequently interrupted. During the same time young pairs around world would easily overcome their challenge. The downturn they provided for the champions during their uprising period was now self-witnessed. They had lost their prime and it was evident from their disintegrating game.
Olympics held at Athens in 2004 again roused the expectations and hopes of every Indian from Leander and Mahesh. Almost all were expecting a miracle from the two and a first Gold medal for India other than Hockey. They made an electrifying start for the tournament. Without much effort the initial rounds were surpassed. In the quarter final match the two fought very hard. The game they played on that day was a memorable one. Their youth was remembered. The power, the exuberance, the strength they displayed was simply great. But unfortunately the younger opponents fought for long. The match was lost. The dreams were shattered again. But the spirit of the game remained intact as the former champions fought like one.
The indifferences caused between Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati caused India a Gold medal at Sydney Olympics. Their effort to turn around things at Athens Olympics failed. What would have been a cake walk in Sydney was a nightmare in Athens. A Bronze won at Atlanta stirred-up the entire sports system. Gold at Sydney would have simply served better.
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