HOLY GAMES

It was midnight at Rio. The  Games Village where the participants were staying had gone dark as there were no more events for the day and all needed to catch up on their sleep for the gruelling days ahead. In one part of the Village, however, the lights were on. A set of athletes, in their complete match attire with their racquets, bows, guns, hammer and all, quietly stepped out of their rooms and assembled on the ground outside. One of them, with a gun on his shoulder, even took a tricolour flag in his hands. All went into a silent march as they had done at the opening ceremony. The contingent walked to a small temple in the heart of Rio and started singing aloud…

O palan hare, nirgun aur nyare,

Tumhre bin humra kaunno nahee,

Hamre uljhan, suljhao bhagwan,

Tumhre bin humra kaunno nahin.

Far away where no spacecraft has ever reached before, the Gods and Goddesses were taking their siesta when their sharp ears caught the song sung in the only planet from where they often got SOS calls. They listened carefully and realized that this was no ordinary call for help. An emergency meeting was called by Supremo Brahma.

“Respected Ladies and Gentlemen of Brahamalok, we have a problem. Over a billion people pray every day but they ask for selfish favours. We grant some boons, we defer some but their faith in us is beyond question. Today we have a small set of people who are feeling dejected and depressed as their great nation, which falls under our jurisdiction, is unable to win any medals. They seek our intervention, they seek our help and I strongly recommend that with all the powers in our hands, we need to do something and do it quickly.”

The God Sports Team (GST) motion was passed with unanimity, something rarely seen in the Upper House. While all the Super Powers were ready to go for gold, Brahma cautioned them.

“All hundred thousands of us cannot descend and play because all sport persons have to be registered well in advance. Some of us will have to get into the spirits of the already registered Indian contingent. We also have to ensure that we don’t win all the events from tomorrow, which I am sure you will do it with ease, or else they will run dope tests and for certain, some of us will get disqualified and the country will get a bad name.”

Shiva standing there jumped, “Hey, I am clean. I am off grass in case your remarks were pointed at me!”

Anyway after a lot of discussions, argument and sparks flying, the Gods decided to send a small contingent down to the Amazon forest in a Uran Khatola, the Chariot of Gods created much before men knew how to even walk on two legs. Each one of these Champions selected was a master of universe in his or her discipline. Coach Krishna was additionally sent to manage the Dream Team to make sure that someone would keep things under control. As they entered the Village, Krishna blew his conch shell and said, “Vijayi bhava!”

The athletics events had commenced and Suresh Kumar was entered as a participant in javelin throw. His best throw was 81 metres as compared to the 90 metre plus mark by a majority of East Europeans and Scandinavians. No one gave Suresh any chance. As he slowly started his run, something came over him and he picked up mad pace and threw the javelin which started flying and appeared going beyond the stadium. It needed Coach Krishna’s mystic powers to curb its flight and ensured it dived down after crossing 99 metres. Wow…everyone was stumped…it was a new Olympic and World Record. Suresh started jumping with joy and his jump turned into a rhythmic dance of Tandava. With the spectators giving him the cheer, Suresh danced beautifully and wouldn’t stop till Coach whispered in his ears, “Hey Bholenath Jatadhari, control yourself.”

In the archery competition, Atanu Das was pitted against the much fancied Korean World Champion. The young lad folded his hands and said a quiet prayer as he entered the box. As he took aim, a glow came over his face which showed his confidence. Atanu stopped, removed the string from the bow and then put it back again, then lifted it up over his head and broke the bow. Coach Krishna intervened and said, “Hey Purushottam stop doing that. This is not Sita’s Swayamwar. Just take aim and shoot.” ”Oops…I forgot. Just can’t forget that fateful day.” After that, arrow after arrow flew in quick succession from Atanu’s bow and each one of them was hitting the bull’s eye…it was perfect ten points on every shot. The Korean was completely stumped and knocked out with ease.

The action shifted to another part of Rio where fencing competition was going on. A lone Indian woman, Kabita Das, had entered into the fray. One after another Kabita easily beat the opponents and reached the finals where she was meeting the five times Olympic Champion from France. Before the finals, the judges told Kabita’s coach that they might have to disqualify her. Coach Krishna went down to her, “Hello Ma Kali, please stop this habit of yours of showing your tongue after you beat any of the opponents. Plus curb yourself from trying to reach for the opponent’s neck as if you want to chop it off….this is a game and we don’t want any bloodshed. Play clean.” “Ok Chief…I will remember your advice but you know it is so difficult.” Needless to tell you what happened that day in the finals. History was made as Kabita stood up with pride on the podium while the Jana Gana Mana played.

It was 3000 metres steeplechase, an event dominated by the Kenyans and Ethiopians since the time memory serves us right. A lone Indian, Gulab Singh, was standing on the starting line. His best time was a far cry from that of most other people standing in the line. Coach Krishna whispered softly, “Hey Pawan Putra control yourself. You are supposed to jump over each hurdle and over the water patch one after another and not all in one go. Forget what you did while going to Ravana’s Lanka by flying over mountains and sea. Don’t give anyone a chance to suspect who you are.””Ok Boss but do me a favour. Just let me run with my gada , the mace. It makes me feel real good.” “Ok, but it will be invisible to all others. All the Best.” As the race started, Gulab Singh started slowly from behind but by the first hurdle he was up there in front and after that what happened left everyone gaping.  Gulab jumped over the hurdles and water patch with ease and his run was smooth. Running barefoot, he looked quite a sight with his right hand bent holding the invisible mace and the other swinging wildly, he won easily with the second placed Kenyan runner behind by a couple of laps. Of course it was a new Olympic and World Record.

It was the last event planned. Diminutive Dipa Karmakar was the last ranked to qualify for the finals of the Gymnastics Vault competition.  Three Chinese, two Russians, one American and one Romanian were ranked ahead of her in the qualification round. Her reaching the final itself was a success story for the Indians as no one had even qualified in Gymnastics before. She had told her parents that morning that she will give her best and leave the results to God. The stadium was packed with the Chinese making the most noise. They were confident of their victory in this event. All the competitors had done their vaults twice and scores were almost close to 15 points whereas Dipa’s first score was a mere 11.22. She started her final run, picked up pace and did a perfect Prodonova Vault and with an extra flip to the original to add to the risk factor. She even made a super landing on her feet rather than the usual butt grazing style of hers. The stadium erupted. All stood up in admiration of this little Indian who had defied death. None of the other seven even attempted the Prodonova Vault for it was called the Death Vault, one small error and you could die or be a cripple for the rest of your life. Here was a girl in her first Olympics not only attempting it but doing it even better. Not only did she get the Gold but the vault was named thereafter, Dipa Vault. Coach Krishna smiled and patted Yama, the Lord of the Death, for having done his part today.

The detractors were silenced. India was shining. Five Golds, Five Records and a style named after one of their athlete. The tricolour fluttered in a breezy Rio.

In God We Trust and He Shall Deliver.

Happy Independence Day.

SS