The inaugural edition of the IIMK-IIMB sports meet is here...the team from Bangalore comprising of some 40-odd guys, one firangan, and some 7-8 girls has landed on Kozhikode's soil with their own slogans and cheerleaders. The stage set, and the drums rolling, the first leg of the first IIMK-IIMB sports meet is on and how...
Starting off with the football match in which our team had had practice sessions for some 5 days and was supposedly not match fit, IIMB guys creamed us right, left and center. They were the better team and deserved to win was what I heard from everyone who watched the match. I could not see the proceedings (had classes) but from what I heard, the 2-0 margin we lost by was actually quite decent, considering that some three goals were saved by the posts.
Next came Throw ball and whatever the IIMB guys might shout about it being our national (???) game, the girls did us proud. Coming back from 10-0 down, they not only won the set but won the match in style (2-0 in the best of three mode). Some really good stuff and resilience were shown by them (especially in light of the slogans and chants and jeers and boos that they had to face from the IIMB junta) in winning the game.
The tennis game was on simultaneously in the adjoining court and it was really sad to see Richard (one of our better players) lose out to Pali from IIMB, and that too, in a match which turned out to be actually irritating, even for the viewers. This guy, Pali, has got a strange game where instead of serving hard or returning strong, he just tries to simply put the ball in the other half of the court and does only whatever it takes for that. Richard, playing his normal game, would have been frustrated, first when he got such serves and returns and later when his own serves invariably found the net. The 6-3,6-3 loss was certainly not reflective of the skill of the players. The other game, better played and certainly more interesting from the viewer's point of view had no takers, with most of the crowd having dispersed after the throw ball victory :-). Gaurav Vohra took on Padam in the game and though he lsot 3-6,1-6 to him, it was a good game with both the players coming up with some good serves, volleys and returns...the better player won.
There were a lot of expectations from Table Tennis, especially since it was one game that we had been in regular practice with. There were some big names in TT, including our own Sports Committee member, Babbar. All of it turned out to be an anticlimax as Babbar was defeated by IIMB's star player in the very first match. The second match between Anirudh and Ashish was the best part of the Table Tennis contest as Anirudh made mince meat of Ahish in the first two games. Ashish's dogged persistence, and his strategy of limiting Anirudh to his backhand, paid off, however, as he took the last three games in a row. 2-0 down, the TT team looked really upset when our own Jeph teamed up with Anirudh to take the match away from the IIMB guys and deny them victory with a straight sets win. The reverse singles saw Babbar playing his second game, this time with Pali, the player with an irritating style in Tennis. As soon as Babbar seemed to have come back to form and had won the first two sets (in his own words, he was having a laugh at his opponent), there was a distraction and the firnagan came in, wearing a skin-hugging top and stood right in the center of the room. Whatever Babbar might say about the reason for his loss, I still believe that the Bangaloreans' strategy paid off and the distraction proved to be too expensive for Babbar :-)
Chess was the last game of the day. Having been a part of the trials process myself, I was particularly interested in the way our team plays. Four matches were scheduled and as I joined the first match a little late, I got to see Alok, the celebrated Chess player on campus (supposed to have won national championships) lose tamely to IIMB's own national champ, Shiv. In the next match, Vijay lost to another guy who did not have a good game but still...
Next came Throw ball and whatever the IIMB guys might shout about it being our national (???) game, the girls did us proud. Coming back from 10-0 down, they not only won the set but won the match in style (2-0 in the best of three mode). Some really good stuff and resilience were shown by them (especially in light of the slogans and chants and jeers and boos that they had to face from the IIMB junta) in winning the game.
The tennis game was on simultaneously in the adjoining court and it was really sad to see Richard (one of our better players) lose out to Pali from IIMB, and that too, in a match which turned out to be actually irritating, even for the viewers. This guy, Pali, has got a strange game where instead of serving hard or returning strong, he just tries to simply put the ball in the other half of the court and does only whatever it takes for that. Richard, playing his normal game, would have been frustrated, first when he got such serves and returns and later when his own serves invariably found the net. The 6-3,6-3 loss was certainly not reflective of the skill of the players. The other game, better played and certainly more interesting from the viewer's point of view had no takers, with most of the crowd having dispersed after the throw ball victory :-). Gaurav Vohra took on Padam in the game and though he lsot 3-6,1-6 to him, it was a good game with both the players coming up with some good serves, volleys and returns...the better player won.
There were a lot of expectations from Table Tennis, especially since it was one game that we had been in regular practice with. There were some big names in TT, including our own Sports Committee member, Babbar. All of it turned out to be an anticlimax as Babbar was defeated by IIMB's star player in the very first match. The second match between Anirudh and Ashish was the best part of the Table Tennis contest as Anirudh made mince meat of Ahish in the first two games. Ashish's dogged persistence, and his strategy of limiting Anirudh to his backhand, paid off, however, as he took the last three games in a row. 2-0 down, the TT team looked really upset when our own Jeph teamed up with Anirudh to take the match away from the IIMB guys and deny them victory with a straight sets win. The reverse singles saw Babbar playing his second game, this time with Pali, the player with an irritating style in Tennis. As soon as Babbar seemed to have come back to form and had won the first two sets (in his own words, he was having a laugh at his opponent), there was a distraction and the firnagan came in, wearing a skin-hugging top and stood right in the center of the room. Whatever Babbar might say about the reason for his loss, I still believe that the Bangaloreans' strategy paid off and the distraction proved to be too expensive for Babbar :-)
Chess was the last game of the day. Having been a part of the trials process myself, I was particularly interested in the way our team plays. Four matches were scheduled and as I joined the first match a little late, I got to see Alok, the celebrated Chess player on campus (supposed to have won national championships) lose tamely to IIMB's own national champ, Shiv. In the next match, Vijay lost to another guy who did not have a good game but still...
The highlight of the day was still to come, however. It came as Mayank locked horns with Shiv in the third game. Mayank started playing fast and with an unconventional opening that made the opponent think more than the time allowed him to. As Shiv's flag went down (that is, he was timed out), Vijay and Mayank almost simultaneously called out to claim victory. This was when the supposedly intelligent IIMB guys started showing an utter lack of sportsmanship. They started cribbing about the player being prompted from outside about the flag going down (as if he was blind and couldn't have seen the clock himself). A re-match was claimed and was held but not before Alok made mince meat of the opponent in his reverse match. Not having watched the first game, I had thought that Alok's was also a story of better amongst the worse but this game disproved all this as he went on a blitz, demolishing the other player like nine pins.
It was time now for the rematch and believe me or not, the game was from from over, as the national player, Shiv claimed this time that Mayank was playing for a draw, well at a time when both the players had a lot to play for. Shiv was short of time yet again and this time, it was Rohit Bansal's turn to shout Yeah when the flag went down. Yes, you got it right, there was to be a re-rematch, this time in the library as the party was to begin in the mess.
It was time now for the rematch and believe me or not, the game was from from over, as the national player, Shiv claimed this time that Mayank was playing for a draw, well at a time when both the players had a lot to play for. Shiv was short of time yet again and this time, it was Rohit Bansal's turn to shout Yeah when the flag went down. Yes, you got it right, there was to be a re-rematch, this time in the library as the party was to begin in the mess.
With two victories in a row that were not recognised, Mayank was being stretched and probably, too far. The third game was in his hands, too but for the rare miss in stopping his clock after his move. In utter disregard for the spirit of the game, the other player, Shiv, took all his time for the next move as he sweetly let Mayank's time run out. By the time Mayank realised what was happening, it was too late. That Mayank was still able to salvage the game and despite a trail of about 10 minutes, was able to bring the game to the last nail, speaks a lot about his ability and mental toughness. Hats off to you, Mayank!
One of the now-famous IIMK parties was next on the agenda as the music started beating, and the food and drinks flowing. There was enough for everyone this night and perhaps even more. The IIMB people were surely having a good time in the party and so were the hooligans (that is, if Deki decides to let IIMB guys off from this adjective she gave them during the football match) of IIMK. Reddy was in one special mood and right from the first swig, he was on to the floor. His calls of Sorry and Thank You filled the background even as the sound system kept tripping for some reason. I came back quite early from the party and was in my room by 2.
The cricket match in the morning was missed completely and I made optimum use of the Sunday to fill up my sleep quota. When I got up, the last few overs were remaining and it seemed that our team stood a good chance. Having made 149 in 25 overs, IIMK had IIMB gasping for breath at 97 for 7. The victory was not to be, however, as the IIMB people kept their cool (which they have been doing through out the last two days) and got the required 11 runs off the last over (4 required off the last 2 balls)...they even hit a four (or was that a six?) off the second last ball to take themselves to victory...unbelievable, but true.
The IIMK girls' team won the badminton tie, yet again inspiring the organisers to put in more sports for girls in the next meet (if that's the way we can have some points, so be it). With no referree available for the basketball match, there was only one last sport left for the first leg and that was Swimming. Manu from IIMB has played national but even our Kiran was not bad. With the first position in almost all swimming events going to them, we could level up only with the help of the second and third positions that kept going to us (that is, if you account for the disqualification of Piyush from IIMB, who was actually swimming freestyle in breast stroke). The final decider was going to be the relay and what a decider it was. With the teams level, and the four players of our team ready, it promised to be exciting. Exciting it was, and how! Kiran got us the lead in the back stroke as he lost the IIMB guy way behind. Kunal was next with breast stroke and he maintained the lead and perhaps even added a bit to it. Anurag had to compete with Manu, and that is when Manu showed his class by not just closing the lead that we had got but also taking a good lead himself. When Vaibhaw lunged into the water for the final freestyle 100 meters, the other guy from IIMB was about 40 meters ahead of him. However, when Vaibhaw rose from the water after his initial start, I knew that he was going to do something special today. And he did do it, he beat the IIMB guy hollow...getting us the first victory in the men's events.
The next leg of the meet is going to be held in Bangalore on the 23rd and 24th of October, when we go there to play football, cricket, throwball, volleyball, basketball, carrom and badminton. Though we are a little too down on the points tally right now, I am sure that we have the talent to beat them. It is only a question of practice and that razor sharp match fitness that is lacking. With two weeks remaining for the second leg, all of us here at IIMK hope that our team turns up the tops.
The cricket match in the morning was missed completely and I made optimum use of the Sunday to fill up my sleep quota. When I got up, the last few overs were remaining and it seemed that our team stood a good chance. Having made 149 in 25 overs, IIMK had IIMB gasping for breath at 97 for 7. The victory was not to be, however, as the IIMB people kept their cool (which they have been doing through out the last two days) and got the required 11 runs off the last over (4 required off the last 2 balls)...they even hit a four (or was that a six?) off the second last ball to take themselves to victory...unbelievable, but true.
The IIMK girls' team won the badminton tie, yet again inspiring the organisers to put in more sports for girls in the next meet (if that's the way we can have some points, so be it). With no referree available for the basketball match, there was only one last sport left for the first leg and that was Swimming. Manu from IIMB has played national but even our Kiran was not bad. With the first position in almost all swimming events going to them, we could level up only with the help of the second and third positions that kept going to us (that is, if you account for the disqualification of Piyush from IIMB, who was actually swimming freestyle in breast stroke). The final decider was going to be the relay and what a decider it was. With the teams level, and the four players of our team ready, it promised to be exciting. Exciting it was, and how! Kiran got us the lead in the back stroke as he lost the IIMB guy way behind. Kunal was next with breast stroke and he maintained the lead and perhaps even added a bit to it. Anurag had to compete with Manu, and that is when Manu showed his class by not just closing the lead that we had got but also taking a good lead himself. When Vaibhaw lunged into the water for the final freestyle 100 meters, the other guy from IIMB was about 40 meters ahead of him. However, when Vaibhaw rose from the water after his initial start, I knew that he was going to do something special today. And he did do it, he beat the IIMB guy hollow...getting us the first victory in the men's events.
The next leg of the meet is going to be held in Bangalore on the 23rd and 24th of October, when we go there to play football, cricket, throwball, volleyball, basketball, carrom and badminton. Though we are a little too down on the points tally right now, I am sure that we have the talent to beat them. It is only a question of practice and that razor sharp match fitness that is lacking. With two weeks remaining for the second leg, all of us here at IIMK hope that our team turns up the tops.
2 comments:
at last i figure on your blog (i know been nagging you through the entire first term for that...;)
and yea, thanx for the compliments.. would have loved it to end up in a winning note.. but next year, we wud definitely beat them black and blue not only in chess but other games as well... :)
one more angle to the entire chess 'drama' that you missed is how i got to play in the first place. i had lost to Sharib in the final qualifier round. however, he wasnt confident playing on the clock and with the format. And displaying true team spirit, he stepped down and let me play the third game..... and that is when all the 'drama' began :)
Ending up on a winning note or not, you did more than any one could have and yes, as for Sharib's 'sacrifice', I do admit that it was crucial for the drama :-)
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