It's been a while! The last time I posted here, Federer was the best tennis player around, undisputed. No one could beat him, least of all the perennial loser, Andy Murray! What could he do? Especially at home! He was just a nearly man. He would never win anything. Federer was as good as it gets. The thought of him losing, especially in straight sets, was so ridiculous it never crossed anyone's mind. Least of all the vanquished, Andy Murray.
Really? The desire to beat Federer on grass must have been on his mind for a while. And if he couldn't do it in Wimbledon, he had another chance in just a couple of weeks - the Olympics! What better time for revenge!
Federer was obviously sapped after his marathon match with Juan Martin del Potro. He would have loved a rest, I would in that situation at least, but no. He had to play an Olympic gold medal match before adoring fans - of Murray. Federer may be a great man, but he's still a man! He was felled, after a long while.
Other lead stories are, of course, Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps, who, in the space of two or three Games, have achieved the status of Legends. Phelps, of course, is justified, being the most decorated Olympian ever. Bolt, with his trademark action and blinding speed, is a fans' favourite. It also helps that he competes in the men's 100m, which is one of the more 'important' sports in the Games. (An Olympic record in judo, for instance, will not be as celebrated.)
India flattered to deceive. As of now, not one gold. One silver and three bronzes. Hardly something to be proud of for a nation with more people than almost all others. The problem lies in the fact that (you know what I'm going to say!) we love cricket too much and everything else too less. We see cricket coaching centres and camps wherever we look; boys on the street are not seen playing anything else. When was the last time you drove past a archery coaching camp? We wake up to these sports when Olympics or Asiads come around and forget them the next day.
It's hard to fight a mentality. But let's savour the international athletes. Nothing like a well-executed high jump.
Really? The desire to beat Federer on grass must have been on his mind for a while. And if he couldn't do it in Wimbledon, he had another chance in just a couple of weeks - the Olympics! What better time for revenge!
Federer was obviously sapped after his marathon match with Juan Martin del Potro. He would have loved a rest, I would in that situation at least, but no. He had to play an Olympic gold medal match before adoring fans - of Murray. Federer may be a great man, but he's still a man! He was felled, after a long while.
Other lead stories are, of course, Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps, who, in the space of two or three Games, have achieved the status of Legends. Phelps, of course, is justified, being the most decorated Olympian ever. Bolt, with his trademark action and blinding speed, is a fans' favourite. It also helps that he competes in the men's 100m, which is one of the more 'important' sports in the Games. (An Olympic record in judo, for instance, will not be as celebrated.)
India flattered to deceive. As of now, not one gold. One silver and three bronzes. Hardly something to be proud of for a nation with more people than almost all others. The problem lies in the fact that (you know what I'm going to say!) we love cricket too much and everything else too less. We see cricket coaching centres and camps wherever we look; boys on the street are not seen playing anything else. When was the last time you drove past a archery coaching camp? We wake up to these sports when Olympics or Asiads come around and forget them the next day.
It's hard to fight a mentality. But let's savour the international athletes. Nothing like a well-executed high jump.
