There has never been such a Saturday. Because such an Olympics has never happened. In nearly seven hours, Indian sports fans have vented their emotions like they do leafy vegetables in those pointless plastic salad spinners. By noon, we are dry. We are a little light-hearted but also heavy-hearted. We are feeling blissful and relieved but some parts of our brain also have crestfallen corners.
Right now no one is talking about covid/pandemic or virus. A brutal alarm clock gets us out of bed, scrambles, turns on the screen, computer, TV and dives into a world of names, numbers, countries and scores. Tokyo is three and a half hours ahead, by the time we are half awake, our world ends in one corner of the Olympics, while beginning in another.
Elavenil Valarivan and Apurvi Chandela are the top names in the women's 10m air rifle qualification list. Apocalypse. Hell and curse. The pressure in the Olympics happens when bacon is dipped in a pan over high heat. You either burn or you burn. The Indian shooting team has never been so big in sports, never so many super successful contenders. To open their games without the finalists in their first event gives us hopeful hope and sinks our heads into cold water. Now we are awake well.
Once the competition started, no one noticed that the Olympics were being played on empty grounds. Who hasn't realized they are in and around Tokyo? Peeking into the morning light of hockey and archery fields?
Meanwhile, the mixed archery pair of Deepika Kumari and Praveen Jadhav are in a corner down the set against Chinese Taipei and the men's hockey team has given New Zealand a PC.
There is no time to take a breath, curse or even gnash because the morning is going at rocket speed. At least 20 Indians appear in action, via chat messages, social media and emails in a mad house called ESPN India "office". Well, hockey team plus then shooters, archers, rowers, badminton players, singular tennis players and judokas, and then of course weightlifters. lifter.
This fast-paced Saturday is unusual and, hopefully, a sign of a future where India's competitive options in the Olympics will grow from a few handful at the turn of the millennium to many more with every Games. Claimant. Competitor. believers.
Now the rovers have flown in double sculls. But before we can even bring to mind Dattu Bhokanal, Jadhav is crossing his tens as if he grew up near the Yumenoshima Park archery area. Dipika's creation came when the team was knocked out by the Taiwanese team that had won their round in the back. Once again, the Indian archers have crossed their first hurdle and are two rounds away from their medal chances. We'll know soon as their next match is a big one against the monster Koreans, but for the time being, we can't hold our breath.
The hockey team turned their game so well into two penalty corners that... maybe Gareth Southgate... ok wait, no need to be cocky, next is Australia. Luckily, I'm not doing a live blog today or will need a white coat and straitjacket. But honestly, didn't Sreejesh grow to be just six feet tall and six inches wide? Or did they change the size of the target?
humming Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra have given a tough fight to the mixed doubles TT. Pong.
In a matter of hours, this crazy rush has become addictive and everything you've been looking for - on the official Olympic app or livestream or on TV - is for an Indian somewhere. Then everyone calms down, suddenly Mr. Money in the Bank catches fire.
Teenage pistol shooter Saurabh Chaudhary has topped his qualification as he is competing at his home range in Uttar Pradesh. He is the only one who has scored ten ten/100 marks in the qualification. Money in the Bank, Medal on the tally.
At one point we dream of two Indians in that final – Abhishek Verma rising up the ladder with shouts of encouragement on the screen. Then world No 1 Verma's second final qualification shot ends as an eight and sends him away for four more years. or three. If he can bear it. How do they keep doing it?
Well, the Koreans have blown up Deepika and Jadhav; Jadhav's ten's have melted into a six and you want to cry.
Worse yet, an Olympic work is being done in our hearts, they have shown their place and taught a lesson. There is a lesson that Moneyin the Bank means zero in the Olympics. A terrible merit can melt into meaninglessness. That the men's 10m pistol final is over and for Saurabh - and the thousands of spectators - in a matter of ten minutes, left him to fight elimination.
Sports can take confidence and form and prestige and crush it like a biscuit. Not Saurabh's as he will deal with this brutal awakening as he knows best, but ours. Optimistic, delusional, we-see-much-we-know-how-it-works. This is the first time that Saurabh has looked this giant in the eyes. He won't forget. We have seen it before and still we keep forgetting. Shame.
Wait there's more to this dreadful morning and a whirlwind of heartbreak and hope. Sumit Nagal was serving the match against Amar Denis Istomin before he was pushed to third place, but is hanging by his nails. Badminton doubles pair Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy defeated the World O.3 team after coming down 16-19.
Then comes Mirabai. Her first look — neatly plaited hair, scarlet scrunchie and Olympic earrings — conveys an easy going, relaxed, controlling mother-in-law. himself on stage with loud cries of encouragement.
She then lifts a bullet motorcycle and a total load of spare parts off the top of her head and sends everyone halfway to Rio. Very easy. first day. that's how it's done. didn't you get it? Such was the case this morning.
The rest of the team has now been told that it is up to them. Boys, girls, ladies, gentlemen, baby log, let's go.