|
|
|
|
|
| July 31, 2000 | ||
METRO TODAY | DAILY NEWS | ASTROLOGY | ARCHIVES | INDIA TODAY | HOME |
|
|
|
| FLIPSIDE Olympic Hopes By Dilip Bobb
The Marathon: Former prospect Jyoti Basu has now been relegated to a distant second place by the new young hope, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta. Though his track record has been pretty dismal, his ability to last the distance and survive against impossible odds, and all conceivable logic, has made him a hot favourite with the selection committee in Delhi. A sprightly 76, Gupta is seen as the new hope for the future even though the rest of the country thinks he would be a winner if he entered the handicap race. The Hammer Throw: Bihar leads the rest of the country in producing musclemen with the ability to go hammer and tongs at the competition. This year's medal contender is Lalit Yadav who has shown that he can hit the nail on the head, or vice versa, when it comes to the heat of battle. Hand-picked as a minister in the Rabri Devi Government, Lalit Yadav's fondness for the hammer, and any other handy instrument of torture, could see him on the rostrum -- if the authorities can trace his hide-out by then. Powerlifting: There are a host of contenders, all belonging to the protective coterie around Sonia Gandhi. Also known as the special protection groupies, they have been in intense training for the past few months, having successfully passed various trials and tribulations by successfully lifting a heavy weight over a sustained period of time. The rest of the party might call it deadweight and prefer it being lifted from their shoulders, but the coterie still believes she can inspire them to Olympic heights. The Relay Race: On paper, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani and Kushabhau Thakre represent a formidable force. In reality, it boils down to who really holds the baton. Collectively, they have the potential to take India to glory. Their biggest drawback is their propensity to flag at the final bend. Plenty of experience but tend to mix up the relay with tug of war. Tennis: The doubles pairing of Vajpayee and Farooq Abdullah, whose combination of thunderous smashes followed by soft lobs has transfixed the nation. Their style of play ensures that the ball is always in play, even when everybody else knows the game is over. Volleyball: Again, a veritable army of contenders from the ranks of the Shiv Sena who are once again demonstrating their ability to pulverise the Opposition and intimidate the referees. More so when their inspirational non-playing captain allows them to play havoc so that he doesn't have to bother entering the court. The team is currently undergoing intense training on the streets of Mumbai. |
|
|||||||
| Top |
 BUSINESS TODAY | INDIA TODAY PLUS | COMPUTERS TODAY | CARE
TODAY Write to us | Subscriptions | Advertise with
us |
With
the Sydney Olympics around the corner, the running debate on whether the
country can produce a medal winner is reaching feverish heights. The
selection trials are gaining momentum and official bearers are, for a
change, highly optimistic about this year's medal prospects. In fact, they
claim there is an embarrassment of riches. Here are some of the medal
contenders in various events.