Few Interesting facts about Sachin

1. Named after legendary music director Sachin Dev Burman by his father.

2. Grew his hair and tied a band around it to copy his idol JohnMcEnroe.Was called McEnroe by his friends. Admires BorisBecker, PeteSampras and DiegoMaradona.

3. Wanted to be a tearing fast bowler and even went to the MRF Pace Academy but head coach DennisLillee asked him to concentrate on his batting.

4. Has scored big runs on Indian festivals like Gokulashtmi, RakshaBandhan, Holi and Diwali.

5. Loved to have i-can-eat-more-vada-pavas-than -you competitions with cricket buddies VinodKambli and SalilAnkola.

6. A foodie who loves sea food. Co-owns a restaurant.

7. Sydney Cricket ground is his favorite ground.

8. Loves Kishore Kumar and rock group Dire Straits. Fusses over his personal stereo.

9. A Ganesh devotee, he visits SiddhiVinayak temple in the early hours of the morning.

10. Wears his left pad first, has the tri-color pasted inside his kit bag.

11. Remembers every Test dismissal – especially the bowler who dismissed him.

12. Likes to dunk his glucose biscuits into his tea.

13. Ambidextrous: bats with his right hand, autographs and eats with his left.

14. Used to sleep with his cricket gear during his junior days

15. Refused to shoot for a soft drink ad of him smashing cricket balls with a fly swatter. He reportedly told film-maker PrahladKakkar, " That would make me greater that the game." The ad was modified: he hit the balls with a stump .

16. A fast car fiend who likes to tear down Mumbai roads at 4 am.

17. Fell from a tree on Sunday evening during the summer vacation, when Guide was showing on national TV. His infuriated his brother ( and mentor) Ajit packed him off to cricket coaching class as punishment.

18. Came back from the four month tour of Australia after the 1992 World Cup and turned up to play from his college, Kirti College, in April 1992.

19. Was without a bat contract during the 1996 world cup where he emerged as the highest run – getter. A famous tire company signed up after that.

20. His coach at Shardashram RamakantAcherkar used to offer a one rupee coin as price to any bowler who dismissed him. If he remained not out, the coin belonged to Sachin. That he still has a good bunch of those coins tells the story.

21. Fielded for Pakistan as a substitute during a one day practice match against India at Brabourne Stadiumin 1988.

22. Was a ball boy during the 1987 world cup semi-finals between India and England at Wankhende.

23. The first ad he shot was for Luna mopeds.

24. In school he was once mistaken for a girl by good friend Atul Ranade because of his long curls

25. Amitabh Bachchan became his biggest hero after watching Deewar and Zanjeer.

26. Played tennis – ball cricket and darts during rain breaks.

27. Sang and whistled with Vinod Kambli during their 664 run record stand in the Harrisshield in 1988 to avoid eye contact with the coach's assistant, who wanted to declare while the duo wanted to bat on.

28. Teammate Praveen Amre brought him his first pair of international quality cricket shoes.

29. Was a bully at school but was kind to cats and dogs. His first captain, SunilHarshe, said that he loved to pick a fight. Every time he was introduced to someone. His first reaction was, " Will I be able to beat him? "

30. Used to go fishing for tadpoles and guppy fishes in the stream that ran through out the compound of Sahitya Sahwas, his building in Bandra East.

31. Made his mother once look for a frog bhaji recipe.

32. The nanny who looked after him is now universally called Sachuchi bai.

33. Colony watchman's son RameshPradhe, was his playmate, said sachin would ask him to dip a rubber ball in water and hurl it at him. He wanted to see the wet marks left on the bat to know whether he had middled the ball correctly.

34. A prankster, he once put a hose pipe into SouravGanguly's room and turned on the tap. Ganguly awoke to find his gear floating. Calls Ganguly Babu Moshai. Sourav cals him Chota Babu.

35. Great spinner of yarns. If he had a cut on his finger it was because it had been chopped by a helicopter flying low.


Courtesy :- Orkut - Sachin Tendulkar Main Community

Some rar pics of Sachin, the mastero

Watever ball it might be, he's gonna time it well .....

Sachin at his young age

Lucky fellow is that young boy.... hmmm....

Sachin obliges his fans

Masterpiece painting by ma friend , a great fan of Sachin
For more works of his art, click here


Will i get a chance to sit and talk with Sachin?????

Tendulkar's majestic restaurant

Signs of a great batsman


He can play all the shots in cricket book


Sachin and his son, Arjun Tendulkar

Legends Quotes on Sachin

This is article is to those people who say that Sachin is not instrumental or the backbone of Indian Cricket. Here are some of the best quotes given by some legends of the cricket about the masterpiece of Cricket, Sachin. There are many players who have quoted on Sachin. Of course who will not be tempted to quote on the master blaster?

BEST QUOTES ON SACHIN :

» I saw him playing on television and was struck by his technique, so I asked my wife to come look at him. Now I never saw myself play, but I feel that this player is playing much the same as I used to play, and she looked at him on Television and said yes, there is a similarity between the two... his compactness, technique, stroke production... it all seemed to gel

: Sir Donald Bradman.

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» I'll be going to bed having nightmares of Sachin just running down the wicket and belting me back over the head for six. He was unstoppable. I don't think anyone, apart from Don Bradman, is in the same class as Sachin Tendulkar. He is just an amazing player.

» When it comes to judging the best among these fabulous band of batsmen, my vote goes to Tendulkar. He has an uncanny ability to come out on top under different circumstances and under different conditions, whether it is Test cricket or one-day internationals. And more importantly, he has done this so young.

» You have to decide for yourself whether you're bowling well or not. He's going to hit you for fours and sixes anyway.

»"You have to watch India in India truly to appreciate the pressure that Sachin Tendulkar is under every time he bats. Outside grounds, people wait until he goes in before paying to enter. They seem to want a wicket to fall even though it is their own side that will suffer".

»"first there is Sachin, next daylight, then rest".

: Shane Warne.

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» I have watched a lot of Tendulkar and we have spoken to each other a lot. He has it in him to be among the very best.

: Sir Garfield Sobers.

» He is 99.5 per cent perfect. I'd pay to see him

: Viv Richards.

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» There is no shame being beaten by such a great player, Sachin is perhaps only next to the Don.

» You take Don Bradman away and he is next up I reckon

: Steve Waugh.

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» Sachin is cricket's God.

: Barry Richards.

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» India's fortune will depend on how many runs the little champion scores. There is no doubt Tendulkar is the real thing.

: Sunil Gavaskar.

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» Sachin is an attacker. He has much more power than Sunny. He wants to be the one to set the pace. He has to be on top. That's the buzz about him.

: Jeff Thompson.

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» If I've to bowl to Sachin, I'll bowl with my helmet on. He hits the ball so hard.

: Dennis Lillee.

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» Hell, if he had stayed, even at 11 an over he would have got it.

: Allan Border (after India won the Coca-Cola cup in Sharjah).

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» Tendulkar is the most complete batsman I have stood behind. I saw the hundred in Perth on a bouncy pitch with Hughes, McDermott and Whitney gunning for him - he only had 60-odd when No 11 came in. I've seen him against Warne too.

: Ian Healy.

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» Sachin's better; Lara is more risky outside the off stump.

» The pressure on me is nothing as compared to Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin, like God, must never fail. The crowd always expects him to succeed and it is too much pressure on him.

: Mark Waugh.

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» He is Sachin Tendulkar. I hope he stays Sachin Tendulkar. We need a new player, a player in his own way. He has a technique which is the hallmark of a great player. Everything indicates that he will be a great player and I am sure he will prove me right. Reminds me of Barry Richards.

: Eddie Barlow.

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» What we (Zimbabwe) need is 10 Tendulkars.

: Paul Strang.

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» His life seems to be a stillness in a frantic world… [when he goes out to bat], it is beyond chaos – it is a frantic appeal by a nation to one man. The people see him as God.

» "I have seen god.He bats at number 4 for India "

- Mathew Hayden.

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» Today he showed the world why he is considered the best batsman around. Some of the shots he played were simply amazing. Earlier opposing teams used to feel that Sachin’s dismissal meant they could win the game. Today, I feel that the Indian players too, feel this way.

: Wasim Akram.

In my previous post "yet another century" someone said that any one can put 100 facts regarding any batsman, now give me so many quotes about other players by these legends. Still i have many quotes on Sachin by other legends too which i have not posted. Sachin is incomparable with other cricketers . A cut above the rest.

Tendulkar's Centuries not in vain

To all those people who still doubt in great man's commitment, think his centuries are in losing cause check this article with statistical proof.

Tendulkar Centuries in vain????

When many people say how many of Sachin's hundreds have come for a winning cause,Here is analysis of each of those centuries he scored when INDIA lost and reason why it went in vain.

Out of the 42 hundreds, only 11 hundreds have gone in vain.

1. 137 off 137 balls Vs SriLanka at Delhi in 1996 World Cup .

India scored 271/3 in 50 overs. The only other 50 score was from Azhar. SL made 272 in 48.4 overs. Manoj Prabhakar had 4-0-47-0. He also opened in the innings with Sachin and scored 7 of 36 balls.

2. 100 of 111 Balls Vs Pak in Singapore- Apr 96 .

India 226 all out in 47.1 overs, When Sachin was out score was 186/4. Pak had a reduced target of 187 from 33 overs.

3. 110 of 138 Balls vs Sri Lanka In Colombo - Aug 96.

Again India 226 for 5 in 50 overs, Only other 50 score from Azhar (58 of 99 balls).Sachin has also bowled 6-0-29-1, the second most economical bowler and the only wicket taker (SL were 230/1 in 44.2) of the match next to Srinath. 7 bowlers were used by Azhar.

4. 143 of 131 Balls Vs Aus at Sharjah, Apr 1998.

This was chasing under lights. The qualifying match before the final. The whole world knows about this match. Still one interesting point, when Sachin was out India were 242 for 5 at 43 overs. Target was 276 in 46. Still India finished at 250/5 scoring just 8 of the next 3 overs. Great performance by Laxman and Kanithkar indeed.

5. 101 of 140 Balls against SL at Sharjah in Oct 2000.

Indian score was 224/8 in 50 overs. (No other 50 score). SL got 225/5 in 43.5, Sachin also bowled 5-0-22-0, better economy rate than everyone except Srinath.

6. 146 of 153 Balls against Zimbabwe at Jodhpur - December 2000

India made 283 / 8 in 50 overs. Sachin was the last man to be dismissed, score was 235/8 at 46.3 overs when he was out. Agarkar and Zaheer Khan propelled India to 283 in the last 3.3 overs. When Sachin has scored 146 of 235 in 46.3 overs, you can guess what the other 8 great batsmen were doing against the World class Zimbabwe attack. Second Highest scorer was Zaheer Khan with 32.Zim got 284/9 in 49.5 overs. Agarkar bowled the last over. Sachin also got 6-0-35-1

7. 101 of 129 Balls Vs SA at Johannesburg - Oct 2001

India got 279/5 in 50, Ganguly made 127 of 126 balls. When Ganguly got out, the score was 193-1 in 35.2 overs. Sachin was the last man to get out at 263. SA got 280 in 48.4 overs. Sachin bowled 9-0-51-0, second best in economy rate next only to Agarkar (10-0-45-1)

8. 141 of 135 balls Vs Pak at Rawalpindi, March 2004 .

India were chasing 329 and were 317 all out in 48.4 overs, 8 balls to spare. No other batsman made even a 50 (when chasing 300 ) and when Sachin was out, India were 245-4 in 38.4 overs. They needed 85 from 68 balls with 6 wickets in hand.

9. 123 of 130 Balls vs Pak at Ahmedabad, April 2005.

India made 315/6 in 48 overs (48 over match), again no other 50 score. Second highest was Dhoni 47 of 64 balls, (third highest was extras - 39). Pak made 319 in 48 overs. The three quicks (Balaji, Nehra and Khan went for 188 runs from 26 overs between them taking only 2 wickets). Sachin bowled 6-0-36-1. No Harbhajan and no Kumble.

10. 100 of 113 Balls Vs Pak at Peshawar, Feb-2006.

India were 328 all out in 49.4 overs. Pathan and Dhoni got 60 each. When Sachin was out when India were 305-5 in 45 overs. Managed only 23 in the last 5 overs.Pak scored 311/7 in 47 overs and won by D/L method. Could have been anybody's game. Sachin did not bowl.

11. 141* of 148 balls vs WI at Malaysia.

India made 309 / 5 in 50 overs. Sachin was not out. Pathan was the only other 50 scorer. WI made 141/2 in 20 overs and won by D/L method. Again could have been anybody's game.

In the other 32 instances India has won 31 times and once there was no result .

Now, please think again when you say sachin's centuries were in the losing cause and that he is not a team player. It is a fact that for the entire 90's India played International cricket with 1 PLAYER and 10 JOKERS.

- Courtesy : - Orkut - Sachin Tendulkar Main Community

Yet Another century

I am a great fan of Sachin Tendulkar, the mastero. He has scored the most number of centuries in cricket's history till date. But this century is a special one and we Sachin fans rate it high. This was an article posted in Sachin Tendulkar, main community in Orkut where one can get loads and loads of facts regarding Sachin, the master blaster.

100 reasons why our Sachin is great

Reasons why Sachin is considered great are endless. This is just an attempt to revive some of them.

01. He feels proud to be an INDIAN.
02. Best batsman in the world.
03. Humble person.
04. He is responsible for making the game of cricket a religion in India.
05. Very hard working individual.
06. Hailed by great cricketing legends from all over the globe.
07. Huge Temperament - highly successful both in ODI's and Tests.
08. Immense pressure handling capability.
09. Holds many number of records against his name.
10. Plays the game with sportsman spirit.
11. He is the only cricketer to have been honoured with the Khel Ratna Award. The Khel Ratna is India’s highest honour given for achievement in sports.
12. Quickly adapting himself to the changes in the modern day cricket.
13. Is enthusiastic and passionate about his game. Still seems that he is the youngest member in the side.
14. Quick runner in between the wickets.
15. Achieved the status of being a great player in his teenage.
16. Greatest ambassador for the game of cricket.
17. Holds expectations of more then 1 billion countrymen.
18. Loved by his family.
19. Great team man.
20. A True Friend for all his friends.
21. A Great disciple of "Cricket".
22. Cricket Fanatics from all over the world eagerly wait for him to see him live in action.
23. Prefers his bat to do the talking rather then his mouth.
24. Has highest no. of runs and centuries in ODI's. Nobody even close to him even in this respect.
25. Has highest no. centuries in Test and it is just a matter of time when he will be the highest run scorer as well.
26. Feels huge pride in carrying Indian national flag on his helmet.
27. Earns great respect from his team mates.
28. Always makes his critics to eat their words.
29. Still a great learner.
30. Sets high standard for himself and pushes himself to achieve those.
31. Never indulges in sledging practises.
32. Has highest no. of Man of Match and Man of Series. Nobody is even close to him.
33. Contributes to the team with his bowling abilities as well.
34. Is aggressive about his game.
35. Can play all the shots in the cricket book.
36. Additionally, has created some more shots by his extra-ordnary skills.
37. Possesses great dignity and integrity.
38. Captains Delight.
39. Pays generosity towards young members in the side.
40. Is vivacious during team meetings.
41. A good fielder.
42. An outstanding student of the game since childhood.
43. Has the ability to make nation go wild when he is on song.
44. Holds record for being highest scorer in a WC tournament, also holds record for most number of runs in WC tournament.
45. Youngest Test Player to represent India.
46. Has set uphill task for coming generations of cricketers to achieve.
47. He is to cricket what Laver was to tennis, what Mohammad Ali was to Boxing, what Schumachar was to Formula one, and what probably Tiger Woods is to Golf.
48. Ambitious cricketer.
49. Charity donor but does not like to talk on this issue in public.
50. Holds the record for highest number of Test centuries.
51. Match winner.
52. Loves to stay away from the controversies.
53. Never had any offense committed under his name in the ICC code conduct rules apart from the controversial Mike Denness episode.
54. At times when Umpires have been wrong in decision making against him, he has accepted there decisions with big heart and without any opposition.
55. Honoured as honest tax payers among the highest tax payers in a public function organized by the Income Tax Department, India.
56. Always have positive influence over people.
57. One man army.
58. Richest cricketer in the world.
59. Holds the status of best youth icon in our country.
60. Ready to adapt any role according to the team requirement.
61. Honest person.
62. Pumps his heart out during net practise sessions.
63. Brings his own clinical efficiency for his sponsors off the field.
64. Always meets the expectations of his over-ambitious fan.
65. Has always lead by example.
66. His batting is even more then what statstics have to show.
67. Presence in the team itself lifts the moral of his side & is a cause of major concern for the opposition.
68. Sir Donald Bradman considered him the closest to himself in technique.
69. Always wants to be victorious.
70. Abundant patience
71. Possesses an intellectual cricketing brain.
72. Always keen to take responsibilities.
73. He is beyond comparison.
74. But, still has to face comparison with the batsman who is currently in form. This itself shows he is truly great.
75. Batting consistently and performing outstandingly for nearly two decades.
76. Loves to challenge himself.
77. Gives horrified nightmares to bowlers all over the world.
78. Carries the title of "Master Blaster".
79. Religious person - A firm believer in God.
80. Has scored tons-n-tons of runs in all parts of the world.
81. Makes the skilful art of batting look really trivial.
82. A true fighter in all aspects.
83. Accredited with Arjun award.
84. Attacks more fiercely if the opposition is stronger.
85. Has a colossal nerve.
86. For being a perfect entertainer all these years.
87. Youngest player from India to score a century in ODI.
88. He scored most ODI runs by any batsman in any given calendar year.
89. Holds the record for scoring 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year - 6 times.
90. Played most number of ODIs as well as most consecutive ODI matches - another record.
91. Fastest to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket history.
92. Also had the honour of becoming Wisden cricketer of the year.
93. Declared Man of Series in 2003 WC.
94. Made most appearances in Test and ODIs for India.
95. Holds the record of scoring five centuries before he turned 20.
96. He with Sourav Ganguly holds the world record for the maximum number of runs scored by the opening partnership.
97. He and Rahul Dravid hold the world record for the highest partnership in ODI matches.
98. He also hold the recored of scoring most ODI half-centuries.
99. Brought huge sums of money into this game.
100. For bringing happiness and joy in the life of millions of Sachin fans.


- Courtesy : - Orkut - Sachin Tendulkar main community

INDEPENDENCE DAY SPECIAL

61 years back, the whole of this day (Aug 15) was celebrated in a grand manner through out our country, probably the best country in the world, which can be none other than the one and only India. It is this day, that year which made India, an independent nation. This day was termed as Independence Day of India. It was declared a national holiday. From then to till date it is declared national holiday by the government of India. Even today Independence Day celebrations are held across the country. Housing colonies, cultural centres, clubs and societies hold entertainment programmes and competitions, usually based on the freedom theme.

Thanks to this great man Mahatma Gandhi and his ardent followers, who followed non-violence and won India the independence. Also, thanks to other freedom fighters who won us independence.

On this special day, I would like to post an interview given by Sachin Tendulkar on his 33rd birthday. I rate him as the greatest Indian next to Gandhi, on his 33rd birthday.

ENJOYING HIMSELF: Wearing the country's colours have always inspired Sachin Tendulkar and 17 years of top-level cricket still hasn't diminished his desire to turn up for the country.

London:

Sachin Tendulkar says that he was extremely naughty and very difficult to handle during his childhood, and his only dream was to wear the India colours.

Now 33 and lauded as the best batsman since Sir Donald Bradman, he reveals in his forthcoming book Tendulkar's Opus how he evolved from being an unmanageable child to India's youngest-ever Test player.

``Cricket is something very, very special to me. It has never been about owning this or that car, and the other things that come with this life. My parents taught me that it is important to live every day of your life with grace and honour,'' the ace batsman says in the book to be published at the end of next year.

``An obsession with money or worldly matters was always thumbed down. My only dream was to wear the India cap and the India colours. In that respect, my childhood dreams have come true.''

A `Mac' fan

However, Tendulkar says cricket wasn't his only love. He also played a lot tennis and believes he was pretty good at it too.

``My big-time hero was John McEnroe. I just loved that guy. All my friends and family would support Bjorn Borg. I was the only one supporting John McEnroe — everyone used to call me `Mac' because I styled myself on him.

``I made my father buy me the same headbands and sweatbands, and even grew my hair long. You wouldn't believe the pictures of me from that time. I was also extremely naughty and very, very difficult to handle.

"I would climb the trees around the apartment complex and polish off all the guavas and mangoes. The fruit trees were strictly off limits, but I used to time it to perfection by waiting until nobody was around, normally in the evening when everyone was inside watching television.

``I had a nanny who used to run after me virtually 24 hours a day, because I never wanted to go home,'' he says.

Guiding light

Tendulkar says he settled down when he started playing a lot of cricket in his early teens — ``all my calories were being burnt on the cricket pitch and my energy was being focused.

``I have my brother Ajit to thank for that — he guided me into the game. He used to watch me play downstairs with my friends, without me realising. He figured out that I could bat by watching my swing, the way I connected with the ball and my consistency.

``He's almost 10 years older than me and had played at a decent level himself. He told me that professional cricket could be a future for me and convinced my father to let me change schools, to help me play more,'' he says.

``My father, who died in 1999, was never a cricket fan, not at all. He was a writer and a poet: he taught Marathi, my mother tongue, at the local university. But he understood exactly how to get the best out of me. He always encouraged me and told my mother that he had full faith in me.

"It was probably reverse psychology, but as I got older I felt like I could not misuse that trust. He warned me against taking short cuts and told me to just keep playing, despite the ups-and-downs. When it came to choosing between cricket and going to university, he said: 'You can play cricket, I know that is your first love, so go for it'.''

Parents pleased

Tendulkar says his parents were extremely happy when he became the youngest player — at 16 — to play for India. ``At first they were a little worried. In India, cricket is almost a religion and they had some apprehensions over whether I'd be able to cope with the demands and pressure at that age.

"Some of the players were almost twice my age and I was living away from home for most of the year. But it all went smoothly in the end.''

In excerpts of the book published in The Sunday Times magazine, Tendulkar says ``I now have my own family, daughter who is eight and a son who is six, so there's that other half of the coin to look at. I need to strike the right balance between cricket and family.

``I try to follow my father's lead and give my kids the freedom that I had in my family. Having children brings back all my old childhood memories, wonderful years.

"Now, every minute is measured and calculated. I still dream — without dreams life is flat, you stagnate. I don't go to the temple every morning, but I do pray. I thank God for everything he has given me, because life has been good to me,'' he says.

Biggest gift

As a child, Tendulkar says he always knew he would play cricket for India. The batting maestro says he received his first cricket bat when he was seven.

``My big sister gave it to me after returning from a trip to Kashmir, which is known for its high-quality willows. It wasn't the best bat, but it was like a piece of gold to me. I used to imagine myself batting for India, hitting fours and sixes, the people cheering. I used that bat until it broke when I graduated from playing with a tennis ball to a hard, seasoned ball.''

- Courtesy : Orkut - Sachin Main community

Abhinav Bindra

Medal winners of 10-m Air rifle shooting

GOLD MEDAL FOR INDIA - THANKS A LOT ABHINAV BINDRA

" Thanks a lot Abhinav Bindra for fulfilling dreams of billions of people ".

India is a country with people strength of around 1,129,866,154 (July 2007). Though there are so many people in our country, we could produce only 57 athletes capable of entering Beijing Olympics this year. For a country, with ranks high in population yet ranks low in sports, this gold medal is an achievement itself. First of all, thanks to Abhinav Bindra, the person who fulfilled dreams of billions in our country. When our national anthem was sung in the medal ceremony, each and every Indian who visualized it either live or through broadcast would have moved to tears.

For those, who are not from India, you guys may wonder what is so very special in winning a gold medal in Olympics. The reply for you guys is that, you cannot understand how much we thrive for a gold medal in Olympics. It is the dream of our nation. We have been dreaming for the past 28 years. Once again, thanks to Abhinav. I just cannot find words to thank you.

Now before knowing about Abhinav, lets just have a short look at the medals won by India so far in Olympics.

INDIAN MEDAL TALLY IN OLYMPICS :

First appearance : 1900

No. of appearances : 21

Summary

SPORTS	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE	TOTAL
Hockey	8	1	2	11
Shooting	0	1	0	1
Tennis	0	0	1	1
Weightlifting	0	0	1	1
Wrestling - Freestyle	0	0	1	1
Total	8	2	5	15

Historically, India is the strongest nation in men's Olympic hockey, winning 11 medals between 1928 and 1980, including a record eight gold medals, and the sport has dominated the country's Olympic successes over the years. It had an exclusive hold on Olympic hockey tournaments between the 1928 Games in Amsterdam,Netherlands and the 1956 Games in Melbourne, Australia, winning a remarkable six consecutive gold medals and remaining undefeated in 30 matches during this golden period. In recent times however India has not done so well and hasn't won another hockey medal since taking gold at the 1980 Games in Moscow,Soviet Union. Compounding the decline,India's men missed qualification for the 2008 Games, the first time it had failed to do so in 88 years.


In events away from the hockey pitch, highlights have been rare. It wasn't until the 1952 Games in Helsinki, Finland that freestyle wrestler Kha-Shaba Jadav earned the country its first non-hockey Olympic medal, a bronze in the 60kg division, and it wasn't for another 44 years after that before tennis player Leander Paes earned the country another bronze in the men's singles event at the 1996 Games in Atlanta, United States.



Weight lifter Karnam Mallesweri became India's first female Olympic medallist when she won bronze in the 69kg category at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia. Shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who won silver in the double trap event at the 2004 Games in Athens,Greece is India's only other individual Olympic medallist.

ABHINAV BINDRA :

Abhinav Bindra is famous now for he has won a gold medal for India in Olympics. But he has won many other medals and awards in his career. For those, who don't know the details about his achievements and awards bagged by Bindra, here are few of his best shots.

-> Abhinav Bindra made a junior world record score of 597/600 in 2001 Munich World Cup and won bronze; gold in 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games; became the first Indian shooter to win a World Championship gold; Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2001.

-> Abhinav Bindra is the brightest star among a new breed of talented Indian shooters. Born on September 28, 1983.

-> At 15, Bindra was the youngest participant at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. Bindra shot into limelight by winning a bronze in the 2001 Munich World Cup with a new junior world record score of 597/600.

-> In the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, competing in his pet Air rifle event, Bindra won Gold in the Pairs event and Silver in the individual event. During a purple patch, Bindra won six gold medals at various international meets in the European Circuit in 2001. He was conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for the year 2001.

-> In the 2004 Athens Olympics, despite breaking the Olympic record Bindra failed to win a medal. But on July 24, 2006, Bindra became the first Indian shooter to win a World Championship gold in Zagreb. Karni Singh's silver in 1962 was the previous best by an Indian in a World Championship meet.

AWARDS

• 2000 - ARJUNA AWARD
• 2001 - RAJIV GANDHI KHEL RATNA AWARD

(BEIJING, August 11) -- India's Abhinav Bindra won the gold medal in the Men's 10m Air Rifle in Beijing on August 11 with an incredible performance in the final. Bindra shot a total score of 700.5.

" I was trying to concentrate on shooting. I wasn't thinking about making history. I mean I was two points behind at one stage. I was just trying to concentrate. I just wanted to shoot well, I just wanted to shoot aggressively, and that's what I did ", said Bindra.

Bindra has won India a gold medal and made us proud to be an Indian. Hope there are many such Bindras in future Olympics for India. I wish they bag more gold medals. All the best for all those who participate in Olympics.

Here are few pictures of gold medal winner Abhinav Bindra

His final shot for gold medal

Punching in air after victory