BENGALURU Friday 6 February 2009
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TRIVIA:
sport
The first field hockey stick was established in 1849 at Blackheath in south-east London.
Steady rise to the TOP MAXIN MATHEW BENGALURU
midst all the fanfare over the new-found victorious teen brigade that has revived Indian badminton with their medal-winning achievements in the national and international circuit, talented shuttler Ruth Misha is making a steady, if quiet rise. While Saina Nehwal leads the fray with her impressive achievements, the contribution of the Karnataka lass has been no less significant. Badminton was never her cup of tea and Ruth took it up as a casual hobby when she was eight. “My parents were pretty worried about my health and my doctor advised them to get me into sports so that I could put on some weight and be healthier,” chuckled Ruth. Though the weight-gain attempt has been generally unsuccessful, the 20-year-old is content. “The move (to take up badminton) has been the best decision of my life. It has helped me focus on one ambition — to be the best in the sport,” she added. Ruth played her first tournament in an under-10 state level meet in the city and lost in the final. “Reaching the final in my first-ever state tournament was itself a big achievement for me. I was confident before I played the tourney and the final result just boosted my belief that I can achieve even better,” she said. Since then, there has been no
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turning back. She soon came into prominence when she bagged a triple crown, winning the under-19, under-16 singles and doubles at the State junior badminton championships in 2004. The following year, she defeated statemate Monisha Vinayak to win the under-19 title in a State-ranking tournament. However, her most cherished victory was clinching the junior National championship, defeating Sikki Reddy in a gripping final in 2007. “It was a dream come true winning the junior national title. I had put in a lot of hard work to produce a fair result, but winning the championship was more than I expected,” Ruth said. The joyride was from over. Owing to her string of splendid wins over the year, the Badminton Association of India selected Ruth along with Saina and Aditi Mutatkar to represent India at 13 international tournaments abroad. “It was simply fantastic. I never imagined that I would get a chance to play for India so early in my career. “We notched up good results at the Open tourneys at Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and the Bittburger Open in Germany. It gave me the exposure that helped shape my game,” said Ruth, who is in her 4th semester, pursuing arts at the Mount Carmel College. Though she lost in the 2007 World Junior Badminton Championships in Waitakere, New Zealand, Ruth is happy with her performance in the tournament. A product of Tata Padukone Academy, Ruth is all praise for coaches Prakash Padukone and Vimal Kumar, who she says moulded her game. “Training under Vimal sir and Prakash sir has helped me a lot in improving my game. They are the best in the country and I am really happy to be learning under them. I’m also grateful to Beedu sir whose valuable inputs has helped my fitness,” she added. Employed with ONGC and sponsored by Tata Capital and Yonex, Ruth is now all set for the Nationals in Indore. “I am fit and well-prepared for the meet. I did fairly well at the PSPB tourney last month and I’m confident that I can do better at this event,” she said. Hopefully in the years to come, Ruth can prove her mettle in her pursuit of glory.
New kid on the block
‘I want to see golden days again’ HARPREET KAUR LAMBA CHANDIGARH
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Ruth Misha trains at the Tata Padukone Academy. PHOTOGRAPHS BY SATISH B.
The move (to take up badminton) has been the best decision of my life. It has helped me focus on one ambition — to be the best in the sport
ou stop for a moment, gather your breath before entering House No. 1607 in the heart of this city. Home of India’s arguably the greatest-ever hockey player, meeting Balbir Singh Senior is anybody’s dream. Winner of three Olympic gold medals — a feat still anywhere — Balbir’s life and career have been a lesson in dedication, modesty and an everlasting passion for the game. This correspondent’s last memory of Balbir Singh dates back to 2006 when he walked in to watch a domestic game at Delhi’s Shivaji Stadium. The spring in his step was unmistakable as he ran up the staircase leaving the spectators awestruck. A yoga regular, the news of the legend’s illness come as a surprise. Says daughter Sushbir, “He fell ill on the day India lost to Great Britain in the Olympic qualifiers. He refused food and spent many sleepless nights. His blood pressure shot up and he hasn’t kept well since that day.” Modest to a fault, the man walks into the room and greets you with a heart-warming smile. The conversation veers to his playing days, and he still remembers every detail of his matches, including his moves and passes. Quick as lightning, Balbir scored two goals in the 1948 London Olympics final against Britain to win the gold, thus earning independent India’s first major achievement in the world of sports. “Those were the days, and those were times when people loved the game. If only...,” he struggles to complete his words. “My daughter doesn’t like me to talk about all this, but if only India could win once again. If only we could make it to the top once again. That’s my last wish from God.” At this moment, Sushbir brings in the country’s proudest possessions — the three Olympic gold medals that Balbir had won in successive Games. You hold the glittering medals in your hand, and leave the home with a prayer, “Let this man’s wish be fulfilled.”