From humble beginnings, Hyderabad’s EMESA rules India’s inland sailing scene
Just as the Hussain Sagar is inseparable from the Twin Cities, so is the historic lake central to Hyderabad becoming inland sailing’s national capital.
By News Desk| Published: 6th February 2021 8:20 pm IST Yachtsmen compete in the Finn class, an Olympic category, during an earlier edition of the Hyderabad Sailing Week at the Hussain Sagar. (Photo: EMESA)
Only the Covid outbreak last year could beach the boats in over half a century at the EME Sailing Association (EMESA) that has not only produced two time Asian Games bronze medallist Rajesh Choudhary, other international and national medallists but also globally renowned officials and administrators of Mother Earth’s most eco-friendly sport. Following is the first in a three-part series.
How Jaisimha almost helped India pull-off its first ever win abroad
By News Desk| Updated: 28th January 2021 11:06 am IST
By A. Joseph Antony
Hyderabad: Until recently, the Covid-19 clouds of uncertainty had hung heavy over the last cricket test match at Brisbane (Australia), now okayed to start on Friday. Over half a century ago, a flamboyant Hyderabadi’s (cricketer) inclusion in the national team was a certainty for the tour Down Under. His exclusion however left him so disillusioned that he gave away his cricket kit, even penning a poignant note on his bat before handing it over.
Summoned shortly before the third test from January 19 to 24, 1968 (rest day included), his determination displaced despair that the denial had driven him into. Hopping several flights, crossing continents, warding-off jet lag, fighting fatigue and shaking off shortage of sleep, a 28-year-old M.L. Jaisimha with knocks of 74 and 101 brought India 39 runs short of what would have been its first
Nearly a decade later, Bishan Singh Bedi s side came even closer against Bobby Simpson s Australia. The home team had lost its key players to Kerry Packer but was still a handful with speed gun Jeff Thomson, Gary Cosier and Peter Toohey in their ranks. It was a seaming track suited to the pacers, remembers Madan Lal, who took 5/72 wickets in the second innings. This was a rare Test in the Seventies where the pacers Madan Lal and Mohinder Amarnath took more wickets (10) than the spin trio of Bedi, Chandra and Prasanna (9).
India pursued 340 in the fourth innings. Sunil Gavaskar (113) led the chase. A newspaper report described it as a patient and chanceless innings where hardly a ball passed his broad bat. Gavaskar was technically sound as ever, recalls Madan Lal.