Go India Go !

As the Hockey World Cup is commencing on 28th February in New Delhi, I felt the need to catch up a little bit with our National game. So after poking my head into websites like Wikipedia, www.indianhockey.com and www.indianetzone.com, I was able to put together some interesting facts.

• Our Men’s Hockey Team has won Olympics Gold Medal 8 times and that too 6 times consecutively, from 1928 - 1956.
• We created World Record in 1932 when we won against USA 24-1(the record is still unbeaten). The single goal scored by USA was due to the fact that the Indian goal keeper got a bit lax and was signing autographs behind the goal post!!!
• In 1936 Olympics final, during the last part of the game, Dhyan Chand had to be administered first aid. He came back and played barefoot. India won 8-1.
• A Sports Club in Vienna built a statue of Dhyan Chand with 4 hands and 4 sticks."To the Viennese, no man with two hands and one stick could have played the way Dhyan Chand did."
• In World Cup, India has won only once (1975) whereas Pakistan has won the title 4 times and have finished twice as runners up.
• The Current World Champions are Germany.

In the past 3 decades, Cricket has taken the centre stage in Indian Sports arena and hockey slowly faded away. It is true that the Current Indian Men’s Hockey team may not be the best in the World. But after reading all the mindblowing achievements of our hockey team in the 1930s, 40, and 50s, I do wish that we can once again become that dominating in Hockey. We do not know where the current Indian Men’s Hockey team stands in International ratings. But that is not going to stop us in supporting and cheering for them from all our heart. So here is wishing them all the very best !

N.B : The 1st match of the tournament is going to be India Vs Pakistan. So that is going to make it all the more interesting.

Hats off to the Maestro for the Double Delight

Wow! Sachin’s 200* against South Africa today was one of the best ODI innings I have ever seen.. As the master blaster was in the 180s, just like millions in this nation my heart was in my mouth and I was hoping fervently that he would go on to break Saeed Anwar’s and Coventry’s records.. When he was on 187, there was a power cut and I was devastated and started cursing the EB. But immediately called up a friend and started following the match over the phone and it was in this fashion I heard him reach 195.Like a maniac I was jumping up and down. Power came back in the 49th over when he was on 199 and Dhoni was on strike. I was frustrated that Dhoni was not rotating the strike (but he did a fairly good job of despatching the ball to the boundaries). When the Little Master finally got his double century in the 3rd ball of the 50th over, it was EUPHORIA! I don’t even remember how I reacted that particular moment..It was all hazy then.. Understandably, all the news channels went berserk and for once I loved watching these channels as accolades started pouring in...hmm what a day.. Thank you Sachin for bringing so much of delight to the cricket lovers across the world.

Team India seems to be passing through a glorious phase. For the 1st time in the history of cricket we are the No.1 Test side in the world. We are doing fairly well in the ODIs as well. We have sensationalised Twenty20 through IPL and now it has become a much anticipated event in the world of cricket. Sehwag, Sachin,Dhoni and Gambhir are all in great form. Dhoni is getting better and better as a Captain and as a cricketer. The new players in the team are also blending in well. Ofcourse we continue to be in need of improvement in the departments of bowling and fielding.

Dear Sachin and Dear Team India, we wish you consistency and we all hope that you carry this golden form into the World Cup 2011 and bring us that much desired Cup and the glory! Cheers!

Endangered species

The recent ad about the fact that only 1411 tigers are left in India and as to what could be done to save them, got me thinking.I just did some googling about endangered species and came across an article in Wikipedia that was pretty informative. So I got to know that about 1498 species are currently facing this crisis !!! Right from small inconspicous creatures to majestic and intimidating animals like the Tigers and Blue Whales.

Some of them are dying 'coz their environment is getting polluted and some of them are killed off deliberately for man's insatiable greed.Either way, Man is reponsible.Irrespective of their role in the eco system, these creatures have a right to live in this planet. Earth belongs to them as much as it belongs to us. How would it feel if some much better evolved supreme beings descended upon us and decide to do away with the human race as it does not play a significant role in the ecological balance ?? Get it ???

To be perfectly honest, I can't understand how blogging might help this cause.The particular despicable lot of the human race who are responsible for this are not going to read this blog and say, "Oh My! We have had it! This great blogger will get millions agitated and set them after us. Let's stop it!". But anyway, here I am, doing my bit in the cyber space for this cause.Other than spreading awareness, what we can actually do is, try and find some good organization involved in these campaigns and help them to the best of our abilities. Do let me know your view points and ideas regarding the same !