ARUN PADAKI writes from Bangalore: Rabble rousing, the rhetoric, the allegations, then the counter-allegations…. Yes, this is how elections are fought with no solutions that will change your lives, mine and the millions.
Amidst all this, very little attention was paid to our great hockey team that won the Azlan Shah trophy at Ipoh convincingly. Let me not bring the attention to cricket here. We all know that.
Yes, yes, Team India, I mean the men with the sticks were real heroes. But there was a courageous soldier in the team who was everyone’s inspiration. S.V. Sunil from our very own Kodagu lost his father, S.M. Vittalacharya, during the tournament, but the India forward decided to stay back and wield the stick at a moment of great personal loss.
Sunil’s father was bed-ridden with a lung problem and passed away three days after Sunil left for Malaysia.
“It was disturbing. I was caught in two minds. I wanted to go back home and at the same time play for my country. The teammates and the coaching staff were very supportive. They told me to fly back and attend the last rites of my father. My father wanted me to play for the country and I wanted to fulfil his wish. I gathered all my courage and decided to remain with the team,” Sunil is quoted as saying.
“When I told my teammates that I wanted to play, they were first surprised, but once I made up my mind they stood by me and gave me tremendous support.”
He feels, the personal tragedy made him stronger, giving him the will to fight to achieve the goal his father had set for him. .
Little wonder captain Sandeep Singh, coach Harendra Singh and the team dedicated this win to Sunil’s father.
Let us salute Sunil, a havildar in the Indian army, who has done Kodagu, Karnataka and India proud. Similar to what Sachin Tendulkar did for India exactly a decade ago during the cricket World Cup.
May the souls rest in peace. Let us spare a moment.
Kudos Sunil ! You really have nerves of steel.
For the record, Kannada Prabha today has a 8 col, front page lead story on this topic.
Congratulations and Condolences to Sunil and his family.
His father’s name suggests that theirs is an orthodox household, the family must be commended for supporting Sunil!
It seems to me that Sunil has joined Army to advance his career in Sports, my respects to him!
hats off to Sunil..U have done India proud. He deserves to be honoured for putting Indian hockey back on the radar.
Condolences to Sunil and his family. Congratulations to him and the Indian team that won the trophy.
Hats off Sunil
I am really proud of you and your achievement in times of such personal distress. I only hope that the team now stays on momentum and win more tournaments.
A touching story! Thanks Arun.
Like NAWN said, Sunil thank you for remembering your father by doing a great deed. I am sure he will be happy with your sacrifice.
Kudos to Sunil.
May his father’s soul rest in peace and the almighty give Sunil and his family the strength to bear this loss.
Congratulations Sunil!
You have been really brave.
May your father’s soul rest in peace.
Kennedy,
Good thinking,least he expects is, some political leader visiting his house!
Abhinandanegalu sunil. Every indian must be proud of him. What else can a son do to make his father feel proud he has sshown the world that the duty comes first than the family A TRUE SOLDIER. I am sure that his father’s soul would be proud and happy and definetly rest in peace.
sunil the real hero indian hockey hats off man best of luck