Saturday 11 August 2012

Braveheart Dutt Does It!

Yogeshwar Dutt for those 45 minutes today between 6.05 pm and 6.50 pm fought from the memory of having fought in many a wrestling battle over the years and the sheer determination to win a medal in his third and last Olympics. He is too exhausted and in pain to draw on his physical reserves. Dutt fights three bouts in these 45 minutes with a mere 15 minute gap between each. 

Mere mortals cannot do what Yogi Dutt did today.  Supreme fitness of mind and body is insufficient. Yogi Dutt assumes yogic proportions in transcending the pain and fatigue barriers. Not only is the Indian wrestler forced to fight his bouts almost non-stop but he also has to contend with a swollen right eye. His right eye is not a pretty sight. The swelling is such that Dutt can hardly see out of it. Plus he appears ready to collapse in a heap anytime. Yet Dutt soldiers on bout after bout against the world's top wrestlers to win the bronze in the 60 kgs category. A superhuman effort. Hats off to you Sir. 

Tomorrow we are off to the ExCel to watch the 66 kgs wrestling and this means Sushil Kumar Solanki, the world champion. Our fingers are already crossed, our Indian flags ironed and our throats well conditioned to scream our lungs out. 

Rati and I are consumed by the Dutt bouts on TV and manage to catch the medals ceremony before rushing out to the North Greenwich Arena to witness the finals of the women's basketball between the US and France. Americans are master hoopsters and this team is no exception. They give the French a drubbing. We sit on the last row of the highest stands and it seems we we are half way up to Everest. This is the same arena where Piggy Chops was crowned Miss World way back in 2000 when it was known as the Millennium Dome. Today the crown goes to the USA.

The entire US team (in white) of five surround the lone attacker. Yet the French lady manages to score. 


The half time entertainment on court is as good as the American hoopsters play. The sound and light dazzle and we are left looking for more.

Now for contrasting performances by the Indians earlier in the day.

A sunny hot day in London and an extreme sport is happening on the roads around Buckingham Palace, the 50 km walk. On BBC I watch Indian's Rana finish 36 out of 54 in the field. No discredit here Mr Rana. The walkers from the USA, Spain and Korea finish behind you Sir. Contrary to what the name denotes, host GB's King finishes like a pauper, in last place. Sabaash Rana.

Indian hockey, 8 time Olympic gold medalists, reached it's lowest depths in Olympic history by not only finishing last but also achieving a humiliating all loss record. If our hockey Olympians can seek any solace then it is in what Pierre de Coubertin said of the modern Olympics when he founded it (see photo below).
The founder of the Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin's words still keep their relevance. His Olympic ethos is reiterated on the Olympic Stadium's screen.
 

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