India is slowly charging towards becoming a nation that reveres every sports form and not just cricket like we have been in the past. With its name being written in some of the historical achievements this year, we are only just getting started.
We have had a tremendous week on the sports front and you must have probably heard about it. If not then you have lost out on quite a bit. But that’s what we are here for so let’s get started!
12th December 2016 marked as the 11th title for Pankaj Advani as he took home the World Billiards Championship Cup winning over Peter Gilchrist of Singapore. He beat Gilchrist by six games to three in what was a thrilling match at Bengaluru. It was his 16th overall title and although it was a little hard for him to venture into billiards from his previous professional snooker days, he is still acing it.
The next momentous victory for India came in the form for of a solid knockout punch by Vijender Singh who shot down his opponent Francis Cheka from Tanzania in the finals of the World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific Championships. Whether it was the home advantage or the fact that Cheka had jeered Singh just before the match, the latter came out onto the battle field with such tenacity that Cheka couldn’t look up from his crouch. The Thyagraj stadium in Delhi, on 17th December 2016, erupted with joy as Singh lifted his retained title into the air.
Just the day after, on 18th December 2016, the country was treated to the victory of Indian Men’s Junior Hockey team as they lifted the Junior Hockey World Cup after beating Belgium 2-1. This was a historic moment for India as it was after long 15 years that the trophy was brought home. The team showed their spectacular talent on the floor in Lucknow and left everybody in awe. Needless to say the country’s actual national game might be coming to forefront after getting trampled on by cricket for many years.
Speaking of the devil, and yet another day later, on 19th December 2016 we saw the stunning display of talent by the newbie in the Test Cricket, Karun Nair, as he scored a thunderous triple century against England at the match held in Chidambaram stadium in Chennai. Nair became the third person to score triple century after Chris Gayle and Virender Sehwag, the second Indian after Virender Sehwag. He put up a brilliant play of 303 not out against the Britons.
Four splendid achievements in sports over a period of week. India has perhaps more sports talent than we let on. But now is the time to unleash the monster. Let the games begin!
