Indian sports history continued

Last Updated 11/19/2006 017:08 PM Nikhil Goyal

Her contribution was appropriately acknowledged across the globe when Time Magazine featured her on its cover. Being the first Indian sportswoman, this was another feather in Mirza’s cap next to being included in the list of Asia’s heroes for 2005. The tennis icon continued her journey by beating top 10 players to reach the third round of Australian Open and pre-quarters of US Open. While wishing Sania to continue her journey, one can only exclaim – “too much, too soon!” World ranking of 34 and a WTA title is sure a feat to achieve so early on in a sports career.

Karnam Malleswari created history on 19th September of the millennium year. She became the first woman to win gold in the Olympics. The rare feat was achieved in the event ‘weight-lifting’ on the turfs of Sydney International Convention Centre during 2000 Olympic Games held in Sydney, Australia. While Pullela Goichand ensured to make a mark in the world of badminton, P.T. Usha and Milkha Singh took Indian athletics to new heights. There is no doubt in calling Milkha Singh the “Flying Sikh”. Indians have been able to make their marks in games which are played by a relatively small percentage in the global arena.

A young age of 17 years witnessed Vishwanathan Anand to become an international figure in the game of chess. At present he is the only grandmaster who is acknowledged as a tough challenge for the world champion Gary Kasparov. Geet Sethi entered the world of billiards and left his imprints in the small world of the game by winning amateur as well as professional championships.

India also boasts of a number of native games. List of the most popular indigenous games would include kabaddi and kho-kho for which competitions are held at National Level. In addition to these, camel-races and elephant-races can also be termed as ‘uniquely Indian’. The south of India hosts the water-sport ‘snake-boat race’ which is a genuine attraction for tourists visiting Kerala. Another most popular sport developed in India is wrestling, locally known as ‘kushti’. It is different from the international wrestling and has developed local styles. It is taught and played in traditional gymnasiums, locally known as ‘akhadas’, with floors packed with loose mud.

The sporting spirit of the country has also come up while hosting a lot of sporting events. People of India have demonstrated and extended all kinds of hospitality in welcoming the tourists pouring in from all parts of the world for such events, be it players, supporters of their respective countries or the curious on-lookers. It would be needless to say that this kind of a warm welcome is otherwise also a general behaviour across the country, where everyone is received with warm greetings. While mentioning the events hosted by India, it would be appropriate to refer to the most popular sports of the country first, which is undoubtedly cricket.

The country has witnessed the saga of cricket, World Cup, not just once. Cricket World Cup was staged here in the year 1987. India got another opportunity to share the honor in the year 1996 along with two other cricket-playing countries which are a part of the sub-continent. Capital city of the country proved to be a successful arena for IX Asian Games. After being a triumphant host to the IX Asian Games held in the year 1982, New Delhi boasts of very modern sports facilities. The event resulted in formation of the Asiad Village in the south of the beautiful capital city. It was ensured that the development such modern facilities is being spread in the whole country.

With the introduction of new equipment and techniques, it is no denying to the fact that India will prove to be best host to such a gala event. Given the infrastructure, continuous developments, sporting spirit of the people and the experience in holding global sports events everyone would be convinced that India will surely take-over the momentum for Commonwealth games in the year 2010 right from the point where it was concluded in Melbourne in 2006. I would hitherto like to take this opportunity to congratulate India for seizing the opportunity to stage such a prestigious sporting event amidst strong competition. I wish the country and its people all the very best to host this esteemed event of Commonwealth games 2010 and hope to see India do justice to more of such historic events by playing a host.