Er Rational musings #253
Sporting stock
~ Cricket.
India wins convincingly, handsomely n with total domination. Home series wins are facilitated by turning pitches, home crowd n known weather conditions.
When we start winning matches on foreign soil, that too, not by fluke or by chance, then we can really boast of great knocks, bowling spells n disciplined fielding.
~ Hockey.
A bronze medal in an international trophy (World) championship, after so many years, is sweet n encouraging news. But still far from our glorious past. Last many years, we have been struggling. Even our goalkeeper used to NOT wear any kind of protective gear like chest pad, helmet n all, in our days at the top. Supposedly, introduction of astro turf surface and complacency changed everything in hockey.
Need to work really really hard. Many concepts like 'total hockey' have failed. The rules of the game have changed. It has become fast. More skilled. Need to adept to the situation and display consistency.
~ Chess.
Vishwanathan Anand is past his prime, sorry to say. Last two world championships have taken it's toll. He is drawing matches more regularly. Even while playing with White pieces, his success rate has dropped considerably. Not attacking as he used to. Newer talented players like Aronian n Nakamura are solidly promising. and offcourse Magnus Carlsen. Topalov n Kramnik etc are still there, but for Vishy, it's a losing battle.
But what a great player!
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मिलिंद काळे, 7th December 2015
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