sign in sign up
<<
Home , Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag

25XT13A.qxd 12/24/2011 7:45 PM Page 1

Page-11 c m y b

The Tribune 2011 THE YEAR OF UPRISINGS SPORTS SUNDAY 25 DECEMBER 2011

THE CUP IS OURS: Indian players celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2011 World Cup in . India beat by six to lift the cup

THE ROAR OF SUCCESS From World Cup to Formula One, the sports scene remained full of excitement because of events that made the country stand up and cheer. A few hits, many misses and much infighting also marked the year in Indian sports

By Jaideep Ghosh

HE Indian sports calendar for 2011 will At the same time, Hockey India (HI) and largely be remembered for two dates — the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), with NEWSPICK April 2 and December 8. The first was the sports ministry playing broker, once when India won the World Cup in Mum- again showed how personal egos and bai, completing an era of domination. agendas take priority the sport in The second was when India. While HI was given approval by the T scored 219 to carve out the highest-ever International Hockey Federation (FIH), individual score in One-Day Interna- forcing the government to follow, IHF tionals, something which raised him to an was hell-bent on completing the World unparalleled pedestal in the sport. Series Hockey (WSH) Tournament. The Bracketed amid these two events were IHF signed up players, paid them money, a few hits, many misses and much infight- and went to town with its achievements. ing, especially off the hockey turfs and the HI countered the move by waving around corridors of power as the government a letter signed by some of the WSH-con- tried to leash the fiercely independent tracted players, stating that they had been Sehwag’s double delight sports associations and federations, albeit misled and would rather play for India in Virender Sehwag made the highest score in an ODI without much luck. the Olympic qualifiers and other nation- when he hit 219 against the in . While cricket, as always, ruled the al-level tournaments. Sehwag became the second batsman in history to roost, some other individuals and teams The qualifiers, however, were another F1 ARRIVES: India’s first Formula One race at the Buddh International Circuit made heads turn as score a double in a One-Day International also won laurels, though the overall sit- story. FIH decided to take the Champions thousands turned up to watch the action. A host of Bollywood celebrities also descended on the venue after , who scored 200 against uation in Olympic sports didn’t see any Trophy away from New and also South Africa in Gwalior last year. marked improvement, despite some fine threatened the Olympic qualifiers, set for story, barring a disastrous tour of England West Indies. But once England got on individual showings. the same venue. Its ire had to do with the where the team managed to lose every the act, they never recovered. The home The other significant event in the sport- IHF and the unsanctioned ‘rebel’ league, match that was completed. It also threw series against the West Indies fell tanta- ing arena was the arrival of Formula One as well as the infighting in hockey. But up a series of injuries, carried forward lisingly short of a 3-0 margin, but that racing to India. The Buddh International eventually, the qualifiers stayed in Delhi. from the (IPL). reflected India’s bowling weakness. Circuit hosted the extravaganza. But On the shooting arena, Ronjan Sodhi Many players fell on the wayside and Sachin Tendulkar is yet to score his while it was a runaway success in its first once again made a mark, defending his some of them made a rather inglorious 100th international century. He came year, one will have to wait and see how World Cup title in Al-Ain in the United exit, including , who close to it on a couple of occasions, but it fares over the next few years, given Arab Emirates, becoming the first Indi- may now face the wilderness for a while. now it seems to have been postponed, at the huge financial commitments involved. an ever to do so. But the World Cup team and Sehwag least for this year. The hockey team did some good by win- Indian football meandered along as always, were something all could smile at. In Sehwag wrapped up the events with ning the Asian Champions Trophy in Sep- though the win in the SAFF tournament in today’s scenario, it’s difficult to see any another superb innings while Rahul tember. The hockey heroes beat Pakistan New Delhi in December was a little bit of other team, apart from India, winning the Dravid again showed how he is still the Marathon centenarian 4-2 via a penalty shootout in the finals at a boost. The team had been struggling ever World Cup. On the other side, Sehwag ‘Great Wall’ of India. Fauja Singh, a 100-year-old Briton, became the Ordos in China. But soon, a rather silly since English coach Bob Houghton had showed what he is capable of. The cricket team now heads for Aus- world’s oldest marathon runner after finishing a incentives’ package announced by sports been shown the door, with incumbent Savio But the Test series wasn’t so flattering. tralia for another stiff test, in , race in Canada. Fauja, from Ilford, east , ran officials spoilt the players and hockey Madiera facing the music. Now he has some India escaped with pride intact against with the Test beginning on the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in eight hours, 25 lovers’party. The players promptly reject- breathing space, as does the sport. South Africa and, then, managed to get December 26. That, however, will find its minutes and 16 seconds. ed the meagre incentives offered to them. Cricket, however, was a long success past a much weaker opposition in the mark in history later.

HITTING BULL’S EYE NO END TO BHAJJI’S MISERIES BOXING AWAY TO GLORY DIPIKA’S SQUASHING VICTORY

Shooter Ronjan Sodhi did what no Boxer Vikas Krishan lost in the Squash player Dipika Pallikal Indian had done before him — he Welterweight (69 kg) semifinals of claimed her third WISPA title of successfully defended his presti- the AIBA World Championships the year when she overcame a The doping shame gious World Cup Final title. The and had to settle for the bronze spirited challenge from Joey Doping hit Indian sports in a major way as many ath- Delhi-based double-trap marks- medal. The 19-year-old, who had Chan to win the 7th Crocodile letes tested positive throughout the year. The contro- man held his nerve in a “roller- Harbhajan Singh was dropped earlier won Gold at the Asian Challenge Cup squash tourna- versy not only hit the players, but also took some coaster” of a final to clinch the from the Indian cricket team Games, went down 12-15 to ment in Hong Kong. The number sheen off India’s hugely successful Commonwealth Gold in Al Ain (UAE) to cap a fine following a of indifferent Ukraine’s Taras Shelestyuk. But he one Indian female racqueter from Games campaign, as many from the women’s relay year during which he touched the form. He missed the disastrous did equal ’s feat at defeated Chan in a team that had won the Gold, tested positive. pinnacle in world ranking. England Tour due to injury. the Milan World Championships. thrilling final.

13

c m y b