India Bagged 3 Beijing Olympic Medals Creating History

CREATING HISTORY is not an easy job. After several generations, some geniuses are born to create or rewrite history. Since the existence of the world, the phenomena has been recurring and still does. All over the world, several such geniuses have been born and made their country proud. Our country has also produced many great people who served the country in their respective fields at the international level.

Science and technology, medicine, management, politics, sports, there is a long list of great Indians. Fact is that those geniuses live among us, but we recognise them only when they do something exceptional. Sushil Kumar is one such name with whom we became familiar, only a day back. After 56 years, Sushil won a bronze in wrestling, one of the most popular games in India.

August 20, 2008, was a red letter day in India’s history as two brave sons of the country achieved the exceptional feat at the Beijing Olympics. For the first time in 112 years of Olympic history, India is on the verge of winning three medals in single edition of the multi-sports event. India’s Beijing medal count was opened by shooter Abhinav Bindra on August 11, with gold in shooting. On August 20, Sushil Kumar increased the medal count by winning a bronze in 66 kg freestyle wrestling. As the nation was celebrating the success of the India’s ace grappler Sushil, boxer Vijender Kumar guaranteed another medal for the country. Vijender entered the semi-finals by beating Ecuadorian Carlos Gongora 9-4.

Shooter Bindra won the gold in the men’s 10 metres air rifle event on August 11. Bindra won the first ever individual gold medal in Olympic history and made the whole country proud. Apart from Bindra’s home town, the whole country witnessed massive celebrations. Just few minutes after Bindra’s gold, the Central government, governments of several states and sports organisations of the country announced huge prize money for the brave shooter. Bindra’s parents were also on cloud nine. His father gifted him a Rs 200 crore hotel on winning the medal.

After Bindra’s gold on August 11, India’s hope for a medal increased with 2004 Athens Olympics silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. But the Indian flag-bearer could not qualify for the final of men’s double trap event. Tennis was another sport in which India was expecting a medal, but Sania Mirza pulled herself out of the women’s singles tennis event due to injury. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi also failed in men’s double tennis. Saina Nehwal also impressed all by reaching the quarter-finals of women’s badminton.

The irony remains that with a population over 4 crore we happen to bag only 3 medals in olympics and that too makes a history... so we shall be proud or pondering over the event? Why is that we come to know Abhinaw,Sushil and Vijendra only after they scored in olympics?

There are so many why circling but the point is that we hardly will remember to think and take steps to make indian feel proud as most of us will forget less than 3 weeks down the lane... Why we only give importance to one game and let go others as an orphan sports...

If there is a time to think and react its now and now only...

Human-animal bonding

Bonding with the best

The bond of faith and trust that is surprisingly stronger than that between two humans is the human-animal bonding.

Animals have made their presence and need felt time and again on human lives. Today, though one cannot call it fashion, there is a sense of pride and happiness among those who own pets.

As vet Dr SK Ray says, ‘‘Pets are quite a trend among younger generation,right from kids to college-goers,though old people also find in them a friend when alone.’’ Indeed, with parents busy with work and other issues,kids find the company of pets a relief.

More so because the pets, be it dogs, cats or even birds, respond equally. ‘‘I feel like a parent when it comes to my doggy,’’ says a teenaged Dipti, the proud owner of Britney, a pomeranian. Cats, dogs, birds or even fishes, all feel and understand human emotions and more.

‘‘It has been proved already that animals have a stronger connection with nature due to which they react before a person suffers an attack or before natural calamities like earthquakes. Physically challenged and blind people also find great mental benefits spending time with pets,’’ reminds Dr Ray.

Owning pets is beneficial to kids and teenagers who are rough in nature and undergo immense psychological change after handling pets. They become more kind and compassionate.

It has often been seen that adolescents often talk and confide their secrets to animals.Growing up with animals also helps understand nature, life processes and improves empathy and non verbal communication.