An Ode

This is for the six people who gave me goosebumps with their performances and valor in London. This is for those special sportsmen and women who have defied the mediocrity that Indian sports in general is and have shone as beacons to this country short of true heroes. And this is for their families, coaches and sparring partners who would not even bask in reflected glory having played such an important role in making India proud.

Sushil Kumar. You beauty. 66kg of unadulterated muscle doesn't come close to the determination that those eyes showed. You now have two individual medals to boast at the Olympics and the fight that you showed at the ExCEL arena is stuff of legend. Going by your words, you are not done yet, and may Rio complete your metal collection. You rock.

Vijay Kumar. Your pistol spoke for you and it did that in some style. Your composure over two days and specially in the finals belied the torment that might have been going through your mind. You may be a subedar in rank but a general would have been proud of your ways. Hoping that there is much more to come from your unshakable hands.

Saina Nehwal. Saina vs China was the war song that every one cried before you landed in London. And thats exactly how it transpired. You stood up to the best and emerged better. Your fleet footedness and finesse have made sure, badminton captures the imagination of many more in the years to come. Go baby go and make sure you go a step further at Rio.

Mary Kom. You are not magnificent "Mary" for nothing. Your hands packed a punch and when your twins grow big enough to realize what you have achieved, it would be poetic justice for your undeterred struggle and pain. You jumped a weight category but that didn't stop you from getting back what you promised. Can anyone claim to be more "Indian" than you are?

Yogeshwar Dutt. You fought an injury and followed your dream. You fought five times in succession and made sure the repechage was yours. The swollen eye was a better memento than the bronze that sat so well on your proud chest. Your technique heralded a new golden age for Indian wrestlers and your broad shoulders carried the weight of all our expectations better than we expected.

Gagan Narang. A gold would have been a fitting follow up to Abhinav's shot at Beijing but with the shooting standards going through the roof, a bronze is well worth its weight in gold. You shot like a man possessed and slayed the demons that blighted you in Athens and Beijing. You say your collection is now complete but surely the Indian contingent wouldn't have been complete without you. Eye of the tiger mate.

A mention of Joydeep who missed the bronze by a bit and the boxers, specially Devendro who showed what a dynamite can achieve. You fought valiantly and came close to etching your names in Indian sports history but you didn't miss making a mark in our hearts.