- The recently concluded Tokyo Olympics has been a revelation on many fronts, not only for the hardworking and talented sportspersons but also the patronizing citizens, who were glued to the television hoping, praying, urging, and encouraging our athletes to break the barrier. The country has witnessed the worst while experiencing back-to-back pandemic-induced economic damages whose effects are visible all around even now. Starved of something positive that could reignite the spark to clear the pervading gloom, people were desperately looking forward to overcoming the negativity. What better way than to feel elated by soaking in the glory brought forth by our exemplary sports personalities through their marvelous exploits on the world’s biggest sporting event? They did not disappoint as the heart-warming stories unfolded over the last fortnight.
PC: Tracey Willmott
- For a generation fed on a relentless diet of cricket round the clock and over the years, few of the athletes leaving behind an indelible mark on the collective psyche of the nation will prove to be a definite gamechanger. I am sure the majority of the population would have had not more than a cursory glance at the sporting events happening around the globe, save for cricket. How many would have given serious consideration towards our national sport, hockey, if our brave hearts failed to live up to the expectations and bowed out meekly without offering the by now spectacular turnaround owing to the bronze medal finish? A very minuscule percentage of hockey enthusiasts would have lamented yet again for failing to reach the podium as has been the case for the last few decades.
- Most hearteningly, the Tokyo Olympics might have succeeded in permanently altering our perception of other sporting disciplines. The entire nation felt electrified by the way both our men’s and women’s hockey teams performed and fought against the stronger teams right through the duration. Taming the German team in the bronze medal contest was such a nail-biting event that it brought the country’s sports enthusiasts, even those fringe elements, to celebrate boisterously when the hooter went after goalkeeper PR Sreejesh saved penalty corner skillfully. The women’s hockey team also performed so admirably winning laurels even though they could not replicate what their counterparts achieved.
PC: ANI
- The icing on the cake was provided by none other than the golden boy Neeraj Chopra through his spectacular achievement in the javelin throw winning the gold after 13 long years. Trust me, it was a euphoric feeling as the countrymen celebrated the historic moment no sooner than Neeraj was declared the gold medal winner. The goosebumps felt when the national anthem played out during the medal ceremony and the overwhelming emotions of ecstasy cannot be described in mere words. Make no mistake, such is the inherent power of the sports which transcends the whole obstacles by uniting the nation as one with a mélange of cheerful emotions browsing through veins. That’s the beauty and influence of sports. Let us uninhibitedly embrace and enjoy it.
