Sport Mail
Indians disappoint against Kiwis

Making Olympics manageable
By Lalit Mohan

EVEN before the Barcelona Olympics the IOA President, Juan Antonio Samaranch, had called the Games “an overgrown circus”. It worried him that the number of events and participants was getting out of hand. Their administration, logistics and security had already become problems of gargantuan proportions. In 1992 the Olympics had 26 disciplines and 232 events. In Atlanta, despite Samaranch’s concerns, they had grown to 29 disciplines and 270 events. In the recent Asiad their numbers increased to 36 and about 350, respectively.

Several unheard of, or quaint, sports made their debut in Bangkok. Wu Shu (10 events), karatedo (11), sepak takraw, regu — what on earth are these? Variations of existing disciplines, too, have begun to proliferate. There was soft tennis, beach volleyball, rugby union (apart from rugby). And within each group of events there were multiple contests. At this rate we could ask for gulli danda to be included as well and then demand that there be different events for teams of twos, fours and eights!

Somewhere a line has to be drawn. There should be some definite criteria for inclusion of any sport or event in multi-discipline international meets. The first touchstone is the Olympic motto itself — Altius, Citius, Fortius. Each contest must be a test of ‘higher, stronger, faster’, in other words of athletic ability, whether of the team or the individual. One could ask, for example, what athletic proficiency do snooker or billiards require? Not only were these games included in the recent Asiad, there were variations such as 8-ball and 9-ball events as well. There was a “carom”, too. It was not seen on the TV in India, but it sounds suspiciously like the game played on a wooden board with counters and a ‘striker’. What will we have next? Chess, monopoly, ludo or snakes and ladders?

The second criterion has to be transnational popularity of the game. The sport must have wide participation within and among nations. We are guilty ourselves of having introduced kabaddi in the Asian Games though is played only in the sub-continent. Thus, countries in this part of the world have assured themselves of at least one medal each at every Asiad. (Remember, our only gold came from this event in one of the Asian meets!) How many countries play baseball, which is as much of a tamasha as cricket, yet it has been included. This also explains the new names in the Bangkok list that we have never heard of. And it happens in the Olympics as well. Some of the old regulars like fencing belong more to pantomime festivals than competitions in popular sports.

The objective of the Olympic Games is to promote camaraderie and goodwill among the peoples of the world. No event should contravene this spirit. The increase in the number of so-called “martial sports” does just that. The worst offender is, of course, the old favourite boxing. It is a ‘sport’ in which the declared objective is to hit the opponent so hard that he is knocked down for good. What message of goodwill could a boxer’s punch carry? Or the lethal kick in some of the newer additions from the East? Many of these sports need to be axed, or let us forget all that baloney about friendship and goodwill.

The criterion that is being violated most frequently has to do with plain logic and common sense, leading to a multiplicity of events in several disciplines. In Bangkok there were 12 gold medals to be won in boxing by competitors in weight categories from 48 kg to 91 kg. Wrestling had eight events in Greco-Roman and the same number in freestyle for weights ranging from 54 kg to 130 kg. Judo had seven for men and six for women; weightlifting, eight and seven; taekwondo, five and seven and karatedo, four and three classifications, respectively.

Why not have just one contest each for men and women? Why not chose just the best weightlifter, boxer, wrestler, and so on, irrespective of the person’s weight? The explanation that could be given is that it is unfair to pit a bigger man against a smaller one, hence the weight categorisation. If this logic were to be accepted then it should apply to almost all events. A bigger person will throw the shot put or javelin much further than a smaller one, so why don’t we have a similar classification there, A taller person will jump much higher or further, so we could classify contestants by height and have multiple medals in high jump, pole vault, long jump and triple jump. The farce of this logic will become evident if we extend it to all the disciplines. Then we could have thousands of gold medals up for grabs at every Olympiad or Asiad.

The same absurdity underlies the numbers game in certain events. In rowing, canoeing or kayaking medals get multiplied by having twos, fours or eights in boats of similar design and dynamics. Every team sport could then ask for variations depending on numbers. Why not have hockey or soccer with six a side as well? Volleyball with teams of two has already been accepted, and is no longer confined to the beaches. Next there could be a demand for three-legged or four-legged races in sprints!

The inclusion of equestrian sports is also open to question. It is the mount that puts in by far the larger effort, but the rider who walks away with the medal. In these contests a person with a good, athletic built is always at a disadvantage because the poor animal has to carry a higher load.

Maybe the games should be sub-divided and held as separate meets. There could be Olympics for blood sports, and boxing and some of the other “martial sports” could be included in it. A fun-fair could be held to accommodate sports like fencing. And separate Games could be organised where the non-human effort is greater and is recognised as such. But the Olympics and their regional variations must conform to the logic of an event which tests the athletic prowess of the contestants in a spirit of friendship and camaraderie. It will only make them more manageable.

Fresh talent ‘good’ for Indian hockey
By Amardeep Bhattal

AFTER a short break, coach Vasudevan Baskaran is back to his task of coaching the national hockey team. It was after the Utrecht World Cup debacle that he was replaced by MK Kaushik whose short but successful tenure ended with victory in the Bangkok Asian Games.

Since that historic day in December, 1998, the Indian hockey scene has undergone a major change. Six of the senior players, including skipper Dhanraj Pillay, have been ‘rested’. Two new-look teams have been selected to represent the country at Cairo and for the series against Pakistan commencing tomorrow. It was during the finalisation of the senior team at Chandigarh that Baskaran took time off to speak on matters concerning the game. Excerpts from the interview.

Q. Are you satisfied with the composition of the team for the series against Pakistan?

A. So far so good. Bringing in fresh talent is good for planning ahead. Pakistan are also experimenting with new players. After the Atlanta Olympics, we retained the same set for the Champions Trophy and thus continued to prolong the change which in a way was detrimental to the interests of Indian hockey. Now we have 21 months to prepare for the Sydney Olympics which is sufficient time to strike new combinations.

Q. After the World Cup debacle you blamed certain players for the poor performance. Is that the reason for the recent decision of the IHF to drop six senior players?

A. I only made them understand the reasons for the defeat at the World Cup. We have to look ahead. Even in cricket Navjot Sidhu and Ajay Jadeja were dropped to give newcomers a chance. I see nothing wrong in giving a chance to players who have shown promise. Somebody else may learn better.

Q. Can you spell out your plan of action?

A. We have planned our action in four phases. In the first phase from January to May 1999, we will be playing as many as 19 matches, including five ties in the six-nation meet scheduled to be held at Dubai in March. After the India-Pakistan Test series, we will hold a rectification camp to improve upon our deficiencies.

The second phase will commence from May and will last till July. During this phase we will have a trip to Europe and play against Holland and Germany. We also plan to hold a camp with the assistance of the experienced Bovelander. This will again be followed by a rectification camp of 10 days. The performance of each individual will be assessed and the problem areas will be identified.

During the third phase from July to September, we plan to add a developmental team. We will also concentrate on improving skills in converting penalty corners and goal-keeping.

In the fourth phase, from September to December, we will visit Australia and the players will get accustomed to the playing conditions in Sydney where the Olympics are also scheduled to be held at the same time next year. By March, the qualifiers will be over and we will get to know our opponents. We can then decide about the system to be adopted against them.

Q. Will the players have sufficient recovery period in view of the busy schedule?

A. This year, we will be playing 30 to 35 games. Next year we will play another 15 to 18 matches. In 21 months, the players will have enough time for recovery. This year alone, there will be 90 to 100 days of rest.

by K. R. Wadhwaney
Postponement of meet ‘shocking’

THE Pakistan team, including defending champion Ajmal Zaman, was in Mumbai. So was the team from Sri Lanka. But both had to return home without teeing off at the Bombay Presidency Club (Mumbai) for the All-India Amateur Golf Championship following threats from the Shiv Sena.

It was shocking that the prestigious golf competition should have been postponed after the ‘honoured guests’ from neighbouring countries had arrived in the city.

It is believed the Shiv Sena’s threats came on the eve of the competition and the authorities had no option except to postpone the meet. The organisers felt that they were in position to guard the greens, spread over in acres. To guard an 18-hole course is much more difficult than protecting a cricket pitch.

Whatever may be the compelling reasons for the postponement of the competition, the Indian Golf Union has got to accept the blame for lacking in vision and wisdom. Why did it allot the competition to Mumbai where ‘goons’ could cause damage to any event, including sporting discipline?

The golf promoters feel that the tournament could have been held at any other centre, say Delhi, Calcutta, Noida, Faridabad or ITC (Gurgaon). The teams already in Mumbai, could have flown to any centre to play instead of returning home without teeing-off. Both the visiting teams and leading amateur players from Pakistan and Sri Lanka must have formed a very poor impression of the country.

The ‘postponed’ tournament must now be held at any centre other than Mumbai. Pakistan and Sri Lanka must be persuaded to undertake another trip to play their scheduled assignment. This is the minimum that the IGU must do.

The IGU has never been known to make adequate ‘bandobast’ for the competitions. It has also lacked in adequate plan and programme. It is time the IGU woke up from its deep slumber and conducted its events judiciously instead of leaving it to chance, as it did in the case of the national amateur championship. The IGU urgently needs a trouble shooter to set its house in order. There is an emphasis on professionalism and the IGU requires a thorough professional to run its activities to the satisfaction of all, particularly amateur golfers.

Jeev in form

Chiranjeev Milkha Singh seems to have come to terms with himself. He appears to be mentally much sharper than he was last year. He does not seem to be tense at the concluding stage of the competition. This explains for his meritorious display in the just concluded competition on the European circuit.

Modest and friendly, Jeev is fully focussed on his golf. He is young and determined. He is a player who is bound to bring laurels to himself and to his country. Maybe, he will achieve much more than what his legendary father, Milkha Singh, achieved in the field of athletics.

Jeev is one of the few players who believes in ‘moderation’. He is calm and composed when he wins a competition; he is relaxed when he fails to perform well. What is most important is that he does not offer excuses when he plays below his potential.

A golfer of many sterling qualities, Jeev is one who deserves to be presented the Arjuna Award. His performance has been much better than many who have been recognised by the Education Ministry.

Shiv does it again

Shiv Kapoor, a 12th class student of Modern School, and Ashok Kumar, also of Delhi, were tied four over after the penultimate round in the All-India Junior Golf Championship at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club recently.

Shiv was at his best when the fourth round began. He fired as many as eight birdies, including five on the back nine. He played a round of five under par and retained the title. His aggregate was one under par for 72 holes.

Shiv was contemplating not to take part as he thought his form was indifferent. But he changed his mind and participated in the competition only to find his touch and poise at the right moment.

“I am happy that I won the competition”, said Shiv, adding: “I am now busy with my books so that I get good marks and thereby secure an admission in some good college”.

Sport Mail
Indians disappoint against Kiwis

INDIA’S cricket tour to New Zealand has been disappointing. In the Test series, we lost 1-2 and in one-dayers we were level 2-2. It seems either the Kiwis have improved a lot or our performance has declined. India’s Rahul Dravid and Nikhil Chopra did not perform according to their reputation. For the Kiwis, Chris Cairns, Harris, MacMillan, Twoes and Nash played to their best. Bad fielding and improper running between wickets were among the main reasons behind our poor performance.

Y L CHOPRA
Bathinda

II

The third Test between India and New Zealand was memorable for Rahul Dravid who scored his career-best 190 in the first innings. His eight wicket partnership with Javagal Srinath was a record. He also became the first Indian batsman after Vijay Hazare and Sunil Gavaskar to hit centuries in both innings. But the overall performance of other team members was not good enough. They could not take advantage of Rahul’s feats. Bad bowling and missed catches by India enabled the hosts to clinch the series in their favour.

HARSUKH MANJEET
Gurusar Sadhar

III

Although India lost the Test series to the Kiwis, yet they deserve praise for their remarkable performance in the Hamilton Test. Rahul Dravid gave his best performance in this Test. He hit brilliant knocks of 190 and 103 in this Test. Srinath, too, gave an allround performance. He took five wickets in the first innings and scored an excellent 76 runs to give India a respectable total of 416. However, Indian bowling was a major disappointment in this series. The Indian bowlers failed to capitalise on the advantage after capturing early wickets.Even the ever-reliable Anil Kumble seemed to have lost control.

RAJDEEP SINGH
Phagwara

IV

India’s thrilling two-wicket win with just one ball to spare against New Zealand in the second one-day international at Maclean Park in Napier came as a consolation after the humiliation in the Test series. It was a wise decision by Azharuddin to field first even after he won the toss. India restricted the Kiwis to 213 in 49.3 overs. However, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Robin Singh gave an outstanding performance and scored useful runs for India. When India suffered an unexpected slump in the middle overs, Nayan Mongia chipped in with an unbeaten 30. It will not be a mistake, if we call him the ‘hero of the day’, because he not only batted well but also sent two New Zealand batsman back to the pavilion through successful stumping. Jadeja and Robin Singh also came up with useful contributions which helped India to score their first win and level the series by 1-1. For ‘man of the match’ Nayan Mongia, it was a great achievement. Besides, Saurav Ganguly completed his 3000 runs in the match.

SUNIL KUMAR DOGRA
Chandigarh

Sachin Tendulkar

After basketball star Michael Jordan, India’s ‘little master’ Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is the only player to capture the hearts of the people. Being in the habit of making new world records, he always captures media headlines. Last year he was in tremendous form. Since January 1998 Sachin has been playing brilliantly. Sachin tends to play in such an attacking manner that he demoralises the opposition and the match looks one-sided. During 1998 Sachin scored as many as 1894 runs, including nine centuries, which is not an easy task to achieve. He is the most composed batsman.

UMESH DEWAN
Ludhiana

Indian batting

The Indian batting leaves a lot to be desired. Even experienced players like Mohammed Azharuddin are unable to find the gaps while playing against teams like Pakistan. While Pakistan always have somebody to keep the scoreboard moving, the Indian batsmen are always struggling for runs. In the Chennai Test, India let the advantage slip from their grasp. The selectors must sit down and seriously ponder over this question immediately. If the same state of affairs continues, I don’t think India stand any chance in the coming World Cup.