Olympics

Ok Athens awed us but how many of us were actually inspired. Are you one of those people who spend a whole day watching cricket but dont have a 10 minutes to watch Anju George sweat it out on the largest stage in the world competing with the finest long jumpers and performing remarkably well. For a sport and an individual with no backing financially or otherwise from the authorities to train and not only overcome her personal best but also set a national record her attempt could only be classified as a "leap of faith".

Any serious observer of the sport would know that there was a slim chance of Anju getting a podium finish while there were three surefire atheletes who would jump over the 7m mark. But it was the fight, grit and determination of this woman that made us believers. Made us think that the impossible is not all that impossible. Working hard and fighting for what you believe is as commendable and rewarding as anything else.

And on the other side the disgraceful antics of the indian squad in hockey, weighlifting and wrestling. Why do we need to spend money on such atheletes? These squads not only bought shame to the nation but also the sports which have bought them such glory. Individuals like Pillay and Malleshwari should severly dealth with. Pillay's career has always been a set of highs and it is sad to see such a sportsman end his career with a dismal performance of skill and sportmanship. If anything else he should have lead the team in a repectable manner without his outbursts regardless of the situations (which were obvious to all of us). A team sport means teamwork and Dhanraj Pillay has got to admit he failed there. I wish him all the best in his retirement and further work and his contribution to modern Indian hockey cannot be neglected here. Thanks for all that but its time you exited gracefully.

Athens 2004 awed all of us and Bejing 2008 will definitely make you sit up and take notice. Now how many of you did Athens manage to "inspire"