Les champions Parisiens

The French capital delivered a memorable summer games. With a novel opening ceremony (the blue guy on the table was probably taking it too far) and Tom Cruise rappelling down the Stade de France at the closing, there were a few firsts that would remain in people's memories. The true champions however glittered in their performances made possible with years of sweat, tears, blood and raw superhuman talent. A look at these trail blazers who would go down as the face of the 2024 games. Here goes the list in no particular order of importance.

1) Leon Marchand : The home poster boy lived up to his billing as the successor to the most decorated Olympian of all time. Four individual golds and a relay bronze would make Phelps proud. Two of the four golds came within a couple of hours of each other. At 22, this looks like the start of another incredible Olympic journey. One that will have us glued to the pool in the years to come.

2) Katie Ledecky : She became the most decorated US female Olympian across games with 4 medals. Two golds in the 1500m and 800m freestyle cemented her place as the greatest ever long distance swimmer. 14 Olympic medals with 9 golds is a haul that will take some catching. She likely has one more dash at LA 2028 to go and that tally is sure to swell in her wake.

3) Ryan Crouser : He cemented his legacy as an all time great with a third successive shot put gold, the only athlete in history to have achieved the feat. While his other rivals like Tom Walsh faded away, he has thrown above 23 m consistently to remain the man to beat. Another gold at his home games in LA would be as gargantuan an achievement as his throws.

4) Armand Duplantis : Pole vault was probably the only track and field event where athletes were fighting for the second spot. Mondo lit up the Paris nigh sky with a jump for the ages. His eighth world record breaking vault stood at 6.25 m. The Swede is 24 and seeing him soar into the sky is a sight for sore eyes. A legend already, he is poised to go down as someone who became greater than his sport.

5) Faith Kipyegon : The Kenyan's 3rd successive 1500m Olympic title is uncharted territory. The middle distance running scene is replete with strong runners and to be able to beat them all over 12 years is a feat that may not be achieved again. The 5000m silver was icing on the cake. A champion "smiling destroyer" like no other.

6) Sifan Hassan : She ran a total of 62 km at Paris. Won a couple of bronze medals in the 5000m and 10000m before conquering the marathon. We probably will have endurance redefined as "Sifan". She beat the defending champion and the current marathon world record holder to win the marathon in an OR time. Winning a medal in the three longest races at the Olympics is a feat unthinkable.

7) Lisa Carrington : The New Zealand canoeist added 3 gold medals to take her total tally of gold medals to 9 across games. In a sport that typically does not gather as many eyeballs as other more glamourous ones, she has written a chapter of excellence away from the spotlight. May her tribe increase.

8) Mijain Lopez Nunez : The Cuban won his fifth consecutive gold in the 130 kg Greco Roman wrestling. Another one of those events that don't attract too much attention but needs as much dedication and excellence to perfect. A heavy weight in every sense of the word. He is the only athlete to have won gold at 5 different summer games. 

9) Simone Biles : No more twisties, just captivating routines that made Biles the queen of the artistic gymnastics scene. She helped the Americans bag the team gold and won golds for the individual all-round and vault disciplines capping an irresistible return after the Tokyo no show. Her bow to Rebeca Andrade on the podium after losing the floor gold was a defining image of the games.

Au Revoir Paris and we start our count down to the LA28 games which promise to bring us more of these pinnacles of sporting achievement. 

Parisian sojourn

                                                             

Its time for the quadrennial sporting extravaganza. The dreaded virus has ensured its happening at a reduced interval this time around. A look at how the Indian contingent is expected to perform at the sporting altar. Whether their mettle would meet the standard required to land precious metal.

I look at the events where Indian athletes have qualified in no particular order and assign two categories to their chances. I highlight athletes that are in the running for notable performances. The remaining participants would be in the French capital to make up the numbers.

1. World standard ( 50% odds of medaling)
2.  Miracle (10% odds of medaling)

• Shooting : Has been one of mainstays of qualification but has failed to deliver actual rewards in proportion. The last medal was at the 2012 games. Indians have won a record 21 quota places out of a possible 24 for the Paris games. India will have representation in all the rifle, pistol and shotgun disciplines. Will it be another instance of the top guns flattering to deceive? I think yes. Indian shooters have had an unenviable record of faltering when it matters the most (read finals). i expect the story to continue. The strongest hope is Sift Kaur Samra in the Women's 3 position rifle. She is the current world record holder and has shown impeccable consistency over the past year or so. Manu Bhaker might spring a surprise but given her performance at the last games, its a slim hope.

• World Standard - 1
•  Miracle - 1

• Athletics : There were goosebumps when Neeraj Chopra hurled that spear through the Tokyo night sky. It was an achievement beyond what words can describe. He will again carry the hopes of a billion on his javelin. Kishore Jena has walked the trail blazed by Neeraj to qualify as well but will need a herculean effort to upstage the favorites. Other notable names are Avinash Sable and Parul Chaudhary who will participate in two races. However, their times pale in comparison on the East Africans and it would be a credit for them just to make the finals.  The Indian 4x400 men's relay is another notable mention being the Asian champions but again nowhere close to the world standard. The other members of the contingent will make up numbers with nobody expected to make a mark.

• World Standard - 1
•  Miracle - 1

• Badminton : PV Sindhu has been the torchbearer for the last two editions but has lost her edge in the last couple of years with age and injuries catching up. Its very unlikely that she adds to her silver and bronze from the previous games. The duo of Chirag Shetty and Satwik Rankireddy carry the beacon for Indian badminton. Their performances and consistency has been world class and not winning a medal would be a disappointment for the dynamic duo. The men's singles with Prannoy and Lakshya Sen is looking thin with both being affected by injuries lately and not being able to challenge the best in the world. 

• World Standard - 1
•  Miracle - 0

• Wrestling : The once bellwether of Indian Olympic performance has fallen into neglect. With just one male wrestler (Aman Sehrawat) qualifying, the chances of a podium finish are unlikely. Vinesh Phogat will be unseeded and will need to get past some of the best in the initial rounds. Given past performances, it would be a challenge for her to reach the business end. Repechage may be the only resort for one of the wrestlers to grab a medal. Antim Panghal is another bright spark but not yet in the league of the top wrestlers making up the field.

• World Standard - 0
•  Miracle - 1

• Boxing : Nikhat Zareen has been in phenomenal form in the run up of the games. She has taken on the world's best and beaten them to the punch. She is the reigning world champion and one of the very few Indian athletes for whom a non-medal will be a surprise. Lovlina Borghain hasn't had a lot of bouts to show in the recent past and is unlikely to add to her bronze from Tokyo. The male boxers pale in comparison to their competition and will return empty handed.

• World Standard - 1
•  Miracle - 1

• Weightlifting : Mirabai Chanu started India's medal tally at Tokyo with a fine silver. Whether she can do an encore will depend on how her recent injuries have healed and whether she can do a total of 205 kg across the two lifts. At her best, she is world class, second only to the mighty Chinese. Fingers crossed for her to lift India's spirits as the games kick off.
• World Standard - 1
•  Miracle - 0

• Hockey (Men) : India are the reigning bronze medalists from Tokyo. However, their form has dipped in the past couple of years. The age old penalty corner conversion problem persists and their physical condition typically is found wanting against the European heavy weights and Australia. That has led them to concede goals toward the end of the matches. The forwards are goal shy with trapping skills found wanting. It would be a miracle if India can do a repeat or better from the Tokyo games. 

• World Standard - 0
•  Miracle - 1

• Archery : The Indian recurve archers weren't able to qualify for the games from the qualification events. Rankings came to their rescue just to be able to make the trip. They go to Paris on the back of patchy performances and low confidence. Even when they displayed good form before the previous editions, they flattered to deceive losing to unfancied opponents. While the easier compound archery teams are consistent world beaters, the recurve archers are mediocre at best. Another floundering campaign expected from them.

• World Standard - 0
•  Miracle - 0

• Other Disciplines (Tennis, Sailing, Judo,
  Rowing, Golf, Equestrian, Table Tennis, Swimming) : None of the qualifiers have any pedigree or past performances that kindle a hope for a top 3 finish. They are nowhere close to the competitive standards required. Honorable mention : Rohan Bopanna/Sriram Balaji may give a good account of themselves in the men's doubles tennis but a medal round would be a goal too far.

• World Standard - 0
•  Miracle - 0

A year of leaps

Christ the redeemer would have his benevolent eyes upon the single largest gathering of elite athletes from around the world. Rio will have the privilege to become the first South American city to host the summer games and while the almighty will survey the action from his lofty perch, us mere mortals will tune in from the various corners of the globe to witness the rise of new legends and some attain immortality. The cynosure of all eyes without a doubt would be the track and field events with Usain Bolt looking to make a run for the ages. A third successive sweep of the blue riband events of 100 m, 200 m, and 4x100 m will need a new adjective to be coined to qualify this trail blazer. In what is most probably his swan song at the Olympics, the "Bolt" is certain to electrify the track. Whether he can achieve the pinnacle never even in sight before is something Brazil and the rest of the world will wait for with bated breath. Another man on a mission would be Mo Farah. The affable Briton would want to etch his name in the annals of history with another double in the 5000 m and 10000 m races following on his exploits in London. Yelena Isinbayeva would want to go into the sunset with a third gold around her neck (and without the albatross of doping that the Russians are saddled with). The pool would also disclose if the most decorated Olympian of all time returns to his hallowed water one more time. While Michael Phelps has swum under the radar since coming out of retirement, he is certain to make a splash should he make a comeback. It would again be a race to the finish for the topping the medal tally between the traditional power houses of the US and Russia going against the new age leaders in China. The soccer mad country should go into a tizzy for two weeks celebrating the motto that drives the best exponents of sport "Citius, Altius, Fortius".

The grand slam of the Asia Pacific finished its first week of play today and while most of the usual suspects made it to the second week, Rafa had to contend with the ignominy of being bundled out in the first round. The last couple of seasons have been difficult for the Spanish matador and Novak's watershed performances have contributed in no small measure to that outcome. A game based on grind and run seem to have accelerated the downhill spiral and it remains to be seen if the clay court season brings any succor. Novak has been conquering all in his sights for the last couple of years and his mental strength to scrape through difficult situations has put him right at the zenith of his career. A golden slam is not out of the realms of imagination given his form and fortitude. Stefan may well look out for his papa's dream run. Roger has had a phoenix like regeneration and while he has not been able to add to his tally of majors, journeys to the deep end of grand slams have not dried up, the championship victory march only cut short because of the Serbian's dominance. With his friend Ivan on his side, there may be a few more weapons (other than the not so successful SABR) that the Swiss may try to put the debate about the greatest ever beyond doubt. His game, so different from the only man he has taken a hiding over his career has stood him in good stead. At 34, he still can run toe to toe against the undisputed world number one. His finesse and elegance still lights up the courts and despite every year bringing us close to the time when he leaves behind his beloved courts, the end certainly won't be in a whimper. 

Serena Williams is one short of matching Steffi Graf for the number of grand slam wins at 22 but what would be in her lofty sights is something only the German has achieved in the history of the game, a golden slam. Steffi backed up her 4 majors in 1988 with the Olympic gold and Serena certainly will have a look at matching the legend. The ladies game remains in flux and her adversaries have managed to topple her only on very rare occasions. Vika Azarenka has shown that she may be back in the groove after being laid low with injury for the last two years and Maria Sharapova continues to be one of the leading lights but none have been able to match the consistency and power of the American. If she doesn't self destruct, this may be the year where records are rewritten to stay put for a long time.

Scorching tracks and record books

The only thing that could tumble Usain Bolt at the bird's nest was a pot bellied camera man riding a segway scooter. Justin Gatlin came close but that was probably the only consolation for the United States track team who lost out on all the six coveted sprint titles in the 100m, 200m and the 4X100m relay. Beijing was the place where Bolt announced his arrival in 2008 and seven years later, he ran into an orbit inhabited only by him and perhaps out of reach by mortals aiming to follow in his incredible foot steps. The Jamaican has now won all of the three fast races in the major championships starting from the China Olympics except one. The 2009, 2011, 2013 and recently concluded 2015 world championship titles are embellishments to his defense of his 3 titles in London 2012. The only blemish continues to be his 2011 Daegu disqualification for a false start in the 100m. 17 golds from a possible 18 is as mind boggling a performance as is his dexterity at sprinting despite being significantly over 6 feet in height. The enormity of the laurels he has won can only be put in perspective from the fact that he now matches the great Carl Lewis in the number of gold medals won in the Olympics and the world championships. His humongous strides have more than made up for the disadvantage of a slower initial acceleration. He has indicated that the glittering career may end at London in 2017 and if he manages to add another six major titles to his already bulging kitty, the track would bow in deference afforded to none before and in all probability never again. 

Catch me if you can

Mo Farah imitates Bolt with the lightning pose topping it with his signature M after the race but he is a trail blazer by himself in no small measure. A triple double in the 5000m and the 1000m starting at the 2012 London games, followed by Moscow and now in Beijing are titles that put him right on top of the list of great long distance runners. The Kenyans and the Ethiopians  come out in hoards to topple the Briton but his burst in the final lap leaves them all in his wake. He runs at the back and even cools his heels in the water puddle but when it comes to the finishing line, there is little anybody can do match his strides, a thing of ultimate beauty. He would go to Rio as the favorite to defend the titles he won at home and a double there would enhance a legacy that is already legendary. A "mobot" in Brazil will be some sight to behold.

M the best

Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce may not be as common a name when compared to her illustrious compatriot but her achievements in the 100m make her one of the great women sprinters of all time. Akin to Usain, she had a bad 2011 in South Korea but barring that hiccup, has won all the 100m titles starting from the 2008 summer games. She has been instrumental in some thrilling relay wins for Jamaica and remains in pole position to defend her title in 2016. There have been few world records broken in China but the one that did get broken was in the grueling decathlon. Ashton Eaton came in as the defending champion but managed to go a bit further by shattering his own mark. His final run at the 1500m event left everyone gasping and firmly established the American as one of the all time great athletes. The middle distance races of 400m, 800m and 1500m had their share of expected winners while a couple of new stars emerged. On the men's side, Kenyans Rudisha and Kiprop landed the gold coming in as favorites while Ganzele Dibaba had to be satisfied with the 1500m title after being ambushed by a sterling run by fellow country woman Almaz Ayana in the 5000m. The 400m men's title went to another young South African in Wayde van Niekerk who outran the American Merritt in a pulsating final and had to be stretchered out from the stadium more out of shock than fatigue. Another athlete to make her mark was Dafne Schippers. The former heptathlete in Oranje missed out on the 100m by a whisker but her blistering gold medal run in the 200m announced the arrival of a serious threat to the US/Jamaican hegemony in the sprints. If these world championships were an indicator to the impending summer games, we should be in for some history making under the eyes of  "Christ the Redeemer".

Aussies in Nott(h)ingham

Sixty is what David Warner munches to lunch on a typical opening day of a test match. Sixty is what Steve Smith has against his name by the same time if he gets in after an early dismissal. Sixty is what Michael Clarke doesn't think twice before declaring even if behind. Sixty is not what you see the mighty Aussies bundle out for. And you don't see Stuart Broad sheepish very often. It  was the sort of Ashes fixture that gets played on prime time over and over again in a highlights reel. Clarke had braced himself with the steely determination that is characteristic of him after the three day loss at Edgbaston. The "I am not retiring" call however gave way to the unfortunate end of a sterling career at Trentbridge. Clarke would certainly not be alone in walking into the twilight. His retinue of not so young men will make way for another rebuilding since the time the erstwhile greats in Warne, McGrath, Hayden and Gilchrist walked away from their glittering careers. Cricket seems to be favoring the home sides with alarming frequency. Of the coterie that runs the game, there seem to be preferences that have led to lopsided contests. Australia don't seem to like seam and swing. The English don't like bounce and the the Indians don't like either. Actually they don't like spin or DRS either going by recent humiliations. That leaves the list of things preferred by the BCCI minions empty. May be any Indian side winning the IPL should count for points in the world test rankings. That would "cement" their place in the top ten for sure.

 It was not very far off in the past where the positions of the victors and vanquished were on the other side of the equator. While the Kangaroos celebrated a facile world cup victory in front of an ecstatic home crowd, England returned with the proverbial tail between their legs. How sport portrays the cycle of life, only in very quick succession. Fairy tales and sport are certainly not bed fellows. The ones who leave their hallowed turf with the same countenance as the one they sported at their zenith are few. Father time creeps up silently as is his wont and champions sweep into history in tears more often than a triumphant smile. Some look for redemption one last time as do their loyal fans. Would Clarke have one last test century? Would Roger Federer land one last grand slam? Would Tiger Woods lay his hands on the green jacket or the claret jug one last time? Will Lee Chong Wei win a gold at the worlds or the Olympics? Moments that would bring goosebumps not just because they would be a last flourish but also because they would push mortality back a little only if temporarily.

The World Badminton Championships ended in Jakarta today and we had both the singles champions defending their crowns from 2014. Chen Long has taken over the mantle from the great Lin Dan and Carolina Marin is the lone bright spot from Europe in the midst of Asian hegemony. A word for Saina Nehwal though. She isn't the swiftest of movers and doesn't have a shot that stands out. Her game is built around perseverance and accuracy both of which seemed to desert her at the last hurdle today. She becomes the first Indian player to win a silver at the worlds to go along her London Olympics bronze. The Rio Olympics may well be her last hurrah and how dearly would she want to be on the podium there. 

The last grand slam of the year is upon us. Flushing Meadows has thrown some unexpected winners on the men's side in the age of the big four. Juan Martin Del Potro breached the fortress in 2009 and Maran Cilic smashed his way to the crown last year. The hard courts and glittering nights offer a chance for a fresh winner to break through. A betting man would however not go beyond the undisputed favorite in Novak. His form has been impeccable and the shape he is in both physically and mentally, it would take something extra ordinary for him not to be counting his grand slam spoils in two digits. Hope to see someone tear up the form book in New York. Serena slam done and calendar slam beckoning. The distance between the younger of the Williams sisters and her opponents is becoming yawning and even though she suffered a set back at the Rogers cup against the up and coming Swiss Bencic, you are sure to get very good odds if you bet against her. She has the sense of the big occasion and they don't get bigger than this.

Spanish delight

Garbine Muguruza is a bit of a tongue twister. But her game is far from being complicated. It follows the time tested method of serving hard and hitting the ball harder. It's not a game of touch and finesse on grass as it used to be when the Everts, Navaratilovas and Grafs ruled roost. The one who packs a punch goes far and she who hits the best gets crowned queen. The Spaniard had a facile win over her finals' opponent at last year's French Open and while that created a flutter, her performance against the indomitable Serena last Sunday marked the coming of a new star on the WTA tour. Her scalps to the road to the final included Wozniacki and Agniezka Radwanska, wins over opponents far above her seeding or experience. Her garrulous demeanor on and off the court did not betray the confidence and free flowing shot making that she displayed in her stellar run. The center court crowd loves underdogs and if she is young and trying to make a dent in the armor of a champion, they root for her with all their might. That the 21 year old was able to get two service breaks back in the second set of the final against probably the best server of all time is testimony not only to her determination but also the power of the spectator's voice. Her showing comes with an entry to the top ten in the rankings which would ensure slightly more benign draws at majors and if the Venezuela born star can keep up the good work, bigger feats await.

The Serena slam finally materialized. She huffed and puffed like only she can, especially against the home favorite Heather Watson but got cracking when it really mattered. At an age where her contemporaries are playing invitational tennis or basking in domestic bliss, she has raised the bar one more time and it doesn't feel like the dominance is going to fade away anytime soon. With an all time record for grand slams including the amateur era well within sight, the American needs no additional motivation to continue her winning streak. Also, with her home slam at the Flushing Meadows beckoning, a calender slams is up for the taking. History being made and obliterated in such quick succession makes the younger Williams the best ever to have played tennis if not the best ever athlete. Her exploits will take a life time to equal and if she continues her all conquering ways, it may well be out of reach of mere mortals. A serve that booms like thunder and an all round game to build on that first shot makes Richard's girl a force that looks impossible to tame. Whats the only thing left  to be achieved? The golden slam with an Olympic top spot.Wouldn't 2016 be the icing on the cake?

We had a repeat of the 2014 final on the men's side on all counts (if you disregard  the number of sets played). The top two seeds made it past some stiff competition, some from expected quarters and some from not so. While Roger served up a masterclass against Murray in the semis, Novak had to come back from 2 sets down against the big serving South African Kevin Anderson. It was a battle of the old master against the current indisputable number one. The question was whether the seven time champion can keep his potent serves at the same level against probably the best ever returner the game has seen. The first two sets were close and it felt like the dramatic second set win took its toll on the aging warrior. There was a perceptible drop in intensity and the match ended in a bit of a damp squib with Federer being broken twice in the fourth set.  Djokovic never really looked out of control and his own serve survived the grueling test. The  defending champion took home his third crown and a ninth major in total and if Stefan's papa continues to be in the form he has been in for the last few years, we will have three 10-time major winners playing together. If that's not the golden age of tennis, there will never be one.

The Welsh were not thought of charitably when the latest duel for the Ashes began in Cardiff. The pitch looked low and slow, something only the sub continent is accused of serving. However, the denouement would have delighted the English faithful with the three lions turning the tables on their more formidable opponents. Joe Root's dual innings earned him a well deserved "Man of the Match" but it was the absence of patience from their antipodean rivals that led to their undoing. It has been an unexpected start to the series and a lot of words said in the build up have now become hollow hoots. The Aussies will need to pull themselves together if they want to retain the ashes in the old blighty. Lords so far has been a run glut and they may need to look to the third test to level the scores. The careers of a few good men may well be defined when we get to the end at the Kennington Oval, none more so than captain Clarke.

Who let the brats out

Niceties make an appearance on the tennis courts every season in the English summer. An almost indignant white dress code, curtseys of yore and the draw in the name of "gentlemen" and "ladies" are the hallmark of SW19. You almost feel this anachronism in the days of fluorescent dressing and heckling crowds at the other show piece tennis grand slams. However, Wimbledon remains a first amongst equals, the crown jewel cherished  more by those who take the green lawns than any other title on offer. While history is something that embellishes the tourney, a few players, champions and otherwise have gone against the norm of keeping the peace. "You cannot be serious" made its way into the tennis lexicon when a certain John McEnroe squealed that line on a contentious line call. That he followed it up with "You guys are the absolute pits of this world" is stuff of folklore. McEnroe's rants help provide that tinge of color to the absolute white fabric that defines Wimbledon. Then there was Jeff Tarango who forfeited his match after walking out on being denied an ace followed by a warning and a penalty point. "You are the most corrupt official in the game" is something that you will not hear in ages on a Wimbledon court. Then there are assorted tantrums from the likes of the Romanian great Ilie Nastase and the defending champion Djokovic. The rarity of these outbursts and melt downs is what makes them stand out in a competition known for being a stickler for the manners. Will we see an entertaining chapter being added to this list starting Monday? Its  statistically improbable but certainly not impossible.

Shooting from the racquet and the mouth

We have Murray, Nadal and Federer in the same half of the draw with Murray slated to meet the Spaniard in the quarters. Novak should have a free run to the finals if he negotiates a tricky first few rounds without a stutter. He has been drawn to play the dangerous Kohlschreiber in the first round and his ranking of 33 does not bear out the quality that the German can display. A third crown for Nole would be the perfect healing touch after the despairing loss in Paris. He still remains the man to beat and with Becker at his side in the stands, he would not be lacking in motivation to match his mentor's title wins. All of the "big four" are prior champions and so the biggest incentive would have to be for the Swiss master to own the record of the maximum number of singles titles just for his own. An eighth has been in the beckoning for some time and the loss in last year's title match in the final set after doing a Houdini in the fourth would still rankle. The watching masses would again get behind the man who gave them reason to celebrate after eons of disappointment. Andy's play has been assured in the season and his steady rise in the rankings is testament to that. Nadal started off with a win in Stuttgart but followed it up with a shock loss to the Dolgopolov at the Queens. He has a nightmarish draw with a possible match against all the other three in line to win the title. But that is the price to pay when you slide down the rankings. Stan Wawrinka would want to land another blow in his now burgeoning career and if he can string together a set of impeccable matches, he can be the dark horse to look at again. Last year's revelations, Raonic and Dimitrov don't come in the tournament looking good for an encore but the former's serves and the latter's touch play are suited to the grass and if they do manage a run deep into the second week, it won't be entirely unfathomable.

Serena, Sharapova and Kvitova would be the names to contend against on the ladies' side of the competition. The two time champion Czech would want to bag a third title after running away with the final last year. Serena would want to put the drama aside to erase some bitter memories from recent performances on her favorite surface. Her booming serves are the most potent in London and unless she self destructs, (another game with 4 double faults on the trot should certainly not be on show) number 21 would not be a surprise. The usual challengers in Lucie Safarova, Simona Halep and Bouchard may find it a tad difficult to breach the aforementioned trio's power on the grass. A fortnight of grass court marvel is about to unfold and if that's not fodder for thought, what is.

The World hockey league semi-finals is a qualifying tournament for the Rio Olympics. While the Indians have already qualified, a match against arch rivals Pakistan is always a coveted one. The change in hockey's face has been so dramatic over the years that the two traditional super powers now bow to European and Australian hegemony. 4 quarters of 15 minutes each, no offside and TV referrals mean a fast paced slick game with very little leeway for error inside the D. Defensive techniques have improved tremendously leading to a stark decline in the number of penalty corners and poached goals are a common sight. All good for the viewing public. The match ended dutch with 2 goals a piece with both for Pakistan coming from set pieces while India getting theirs from field moves. Sardar Singh remains India's talisman marshaling his troops from the midfield.  While it was an exciting contest, both sides showed deficiencies before the goal and that is something they would need to rectify soon to be able to mount a challenge for the likes of the Aussies, Netherlands and Spain.  The game looks to be on the upswing for the two Asian giants and that is worth celebrating.