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| SPORTS TRIBUNE | Saturday, July 26, 2003, Chandigarh, India |
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‘Operation Athens’ set in motion Sodhi aiming at comeback Waugh cricket’s greatest captain |
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‘Operation Athens’ set in motion ‘OPERATION Athens’ has, it appears, been set in motion. According to newspaper reports an Olympic preparation committee, with Mr Vijay Kumar Malhotra as its chairman, will be constituted to provide all assistance to medal contenders. A positive attitude indeed and something well in advance. One of the major efforts of the preparation committee will be to tap corporate funds for sponsoring medal prospects. This is to supplement the Rs 4 crore promised by the Ministry of Coal and Mines and the possible addition from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. As per reports the Sports Authority of India has signed a MoU with FICCI for this purpose. So much money for an Olympic effort, and that too a full year in advance. Nothing of this sort has ever been tried before! The constitution of a special committee to monitor the preparation for the Olympic Games in Athens next year obviously leads one to believe that the federations involved will come under the new authority. Also that the Olympic preparation committee would be doling out the required money for coaching and training camps. If it is so, it will mean that sports in India has broken fresh ground. On the face of it, the assumption that the federations will play second fiddle to the central authority will not bear scrutiny. Agreed that they will demand the money but that is all. For the rest each federation will tread an independent path. The athletics federation for instance will never stand interference from any outside authority irrespective of the financial involvement. One of the major problems facing any central authority while defining the area of excellence is concerned is that India does not have any chance of a medal in the Olympics. The only possibility is in hockey but then that is one discipline which has always been reckoned as a medal prospect. As for the rest there is no way India can win a medal, unless fate intervenes and the standards suddenly slump. But Indians are an optimistic tribe insofar as international events are concerned. They always dream about the unreachable. So far the only time an athlete had a chance for a medal was for P.T. Usha in the 1984 Los Angeles Games. There were reasons for that. It was the first time that the women’s 400 metres hurdles was introduced in the Olympics and in the absence of the very strong field from the Eastern Bloc, the event was wide open with any one of the eight finalists given an equal chance to win. In the event the winner was unknown girl and Usha finished fourth in what is still a national record time. As far as the other disciplines are concerned there is no use even pretending to think of a medal. Indians should be happy if as many of them are allowed to compete in the Games through qualifying norms. It is rather difficult to understand the extreme optimism displayed before any Olympic Games. It should be obvious to all concerned that Indians are just beginners insofar as top class competition at the world level is concerned and should consider it an honour to be allowed to compete. Frankly this preparation committee should concentrate only on hockey, the few athletes who make the grade as well as those of the competitors who have been able to enter through the qualifying norms. There is no use wasting money on athletes whose standards are far below the existing Olympic norms. One does not require a special committee to inform the public of the possibilities our athletes have of winning medals. India just does not have, the stuff to win medals. Instead of spending so much money on sending large numbers of athletes and officials to the Olympics, the money could well be spent at home in promoting sports at all levels and inculcate in them a sports culture. India is not in the medal winning category yet. One thing the preparation committee could and should do. Hire the services of a psychologist and drill the participants from India mentally. One of the biggest reasons for Indians generally not even matching the performances returned home is a distinct lack of mental toughness and confidence. The psychologist should convert them from being training-camp-fit to competition-fit. Then only can the trend change and Indian athletes may be able to at least improve upon their own home performances. |
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Sodhi aiming at comeback THE day for Reetinder Sodhi begins quite early. And it extends well into the night. Sodhi is driven by the single-minded zeal to be back in the Indian squad as an allrounder. The National Institute of Cricket and Sports Academy at Patiala has adequate lighting arrangements enabling the enthusiastic cricketer to hone his skills under lights. "I will be back. It's just a matter of time. I am preparing hard to achieve the objective," was his succinct reply when asked about his comeback to the national squad. The 23-year-old is eying the allrounder's slot lying vacant ever since gritty Tamil Nadu player Robin Singh was dumped in undue haste in favour of someone young. Robin, despite the advancing years was still performing well and justifying his stay in the squad, either it be his scintillating batting, robust fielding or gentle but nagging medium pace bowling. Peerless all rounder Kapil Dev's recent statement that the Indian team needed at least two all rounders for it to be more competitive in the international arena has given a boost to the claims of Sodhi. Sodhi is a hardworking batsman, capable of chipping in with useful contributions at a fast clip in the middle order. As a fielder, Sodhi is comparable with the best in the business. His enthusiastic runs towards the fence to cut off a possible four or a slide at the boundary make Sodhi a valuable performer particularly in one-day games. The former international player told this correspondent that he was making extra efforts and seeking advice from wherever possible to enhance his value as a bowler. Sodhi revealed that, among others, Rajinder Pal, former India pace bowler, was of immense help to him in finetuning his skills as a pace bowler. Sodhi shot into prominence when as captain of the Indian team he gave superb all round display paving the way for title victory against arch rivals Pakistan in the under-15 World Cup final at the Lord's. When the Mohammad Kaif-led Indian team won the under-19 World Cup held in Sri Lanka in 2000, Sodhi, as vice-captain, was the ‘man of the match’ in final. This was the time when Sodhi was considered one of the most talented youngsters the country had. As part of the India 'A' squad, Sodhi has played against visiting West Indies 'A' besides touring Holland and Pakistan to play against 'A' team. Sodhi has played in the Challenger Trophy. In the last edition of the Duleep Trophy Sodhi was skipper of India 'A' which had players like Sanjay Bangar, Sadgopan Ramesh, S Sriram and Irfan Pathan. Sodhi, who got to play only two matches due to injury, did well with the ball taking four wickets in the second game. He has an unbeaten double century to his credit against Delhi in Ranji Trophy. Currently working with Indian Airlines as an Assistant Manager, Sodhi has modest record in the 18 one-day matches that he has played for the country 67 he scored against the West Indies in Zimbabwe in a triangular series being his highest score. |
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Waugh cricket’s greatest captain STEVE Waugh replaced West Indian great Clive Lloyd as cricket's most successful ever captain when he led Australia to victory over Bangladesh on July 20. Waugh chalked up his 37th win as skipper, surpassing the previous world record of 36 set by Lloyd in the 1980s, with a strike rate unmatched in cricket's long history. ''It was a bit of a slow start and a real learning process in the first 12 months, but I feel as if I've improved along the way and done a pretty good job,'' Waugh told a news conference recently. ''I've been fortunate enough to have some great players in my side, guys who can really make the game, so it's been a real team effort.'' Waugh's 37 wins came from just 50 matches in charge while Lloyd needed 74 matches for his 36 wins. Australia's Allan Border, third on the all-time list with 32 wins, captained in 93 matches, albeit mostly at a time when his teams were struggling. Waugh's winning strike rate of 74 per cent is easily the highest by any captain who has been in charge for at least 20 Tests with the late Don Bradman's success rate of 62.50 the second best. Lloyd and Border are both under 50 per cent. Waugh only took over the captaincy in 1999 when Mark Taylor stood down but has quickly established himself as a strong leader and his team is already being compared to Bradman's 1948 Invincibles, arguably the greatest side of all time. There are no obvious weaknesses in Waugh's team and the side includes a handful of players who will be remembered among the greats of the game including Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and, of course, Waugh himself. Waugh attributes his success to the team's strategy of scoring their runs quickly because it allows them to take the weather out of the equation then bowl and field aggressively knowing they have enough time to get the wickets. ''It's a positive way that we play the game and we like to try and win in quick time,'' Waugh said.
— Reuters, AFP |
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DD’s failure to telecast hockey ties shocking IT was really a praiseworthy performance by the Indian hockey team. They won two titles in Australia and Germany. It is the result of hard work and spirit of do-or-die inculcated by coach Rajinder Singh in the boys. No doubt the spirit of ‘do-or-die’ pays a lot. The hockey-loving public of India is overjoyed. Our best wishes to the team for the Champions Trophy and Olympics. The failure of Doordarshan to telecast the matches is shocking. We request to the ministry concerned to ensure that matches of Champions Trophy next month are telecast live.
Sub Major H.S. Nagra V’ball showing It was thrilling to know that our junior volleyball team finished runners-up in the Junior World Championship recently. Our team’s performance in Thailand was surprising as they outclassed defending champions Brazil in the league stage. The role of the VFI in honouring the team is laudable. However, nothing has been done so for in the case of the under 17 team who emerged champions in the Asian volleyball (under-17) meet held at Chennai. The government must announce some incentive to boost the morale of the players. In the early sixties we produced world class players like Nripjit Singh, Satgur Dyal Dhariwal, Balwant Singh Ballu, J.S. Bawa, Som Nath and Sardari Lal Kapoor. We took the silver medal in the 1962 Asian Games at Jakarta. Bansi Ram IHF Juniors Of late the Indian hockey team has been in the news for having performed magnificently in Australia and Germany. Following the trail of their seniors, IHF Juniors also were in the limelight by winning the prestigious All-India MCC Murugappa Hockey Tournament. They beat Indian Railways 5-3 in the final. It was their goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza whose heroics under the bar helped his side defeat their opponents. He put up a sterling performance in a tight situation and blocked Railways captain’s push which shunted the rivals to the yard. The IHF Juniors deserve accolades. Tarsem S. Bumrah Ground misuse The blatant misuse of the polo grounds in Patiala during the swearing in function of panches and sarpanches is a cause for concern. By erecting a huge pandal, the authorities did irrepairable damage to the ground which has produced national and international players in the past. Ironically the function was presided over by Capt Amarinder Singh who is well known for his patronage of sports. Dr Sachin Kaushal |
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Gopal Sharma
STEVE Waugh replaced West Indian great Clive Lloyd as cricket's most successful ever captain when he led Australia to victory over Bangladesh on July 20.
Waugh chalked up his 37th win as skipper, surpassing the previous world record of 36 set by Lloyd in the 1980s, with a strike rate unmatched in cricket's long history.
