Common Wealth Games 2012

This post is dedicated to the XIX CommonWealth Games DELHI…

Two weeks before the start of this Mega event, we could only hear all bad about these games.. On Facebook, on TV Channels, on Websites and Blogs.. Everywhere.. Everyone was Damn sure that these games are going to be flop.. Then one day, I happened to read an appeal from Mr. Subrato Roy Sahara in a newspaper (Read it here).. Which totally changed my mindset…

Although even I wasn’t very confident that the games could be as successful as they have been.. yet I believed that criticizing the games just 10 days before their start would only result in less participation, less audience, and thus less Revenue…  Therefore, I had prepared myself to speak only positively about the games…

One fine day, I just checked the CWG site and when I saw the ticket prices were so low, I discussed with my wingies that we could actually go and watch the games in the stadium… And many of them supported the !dea.. So our strong contingent of 18 people unanimously came up with a plan to go to Delhi to see Hockey, Badminton and Netball on 9th October…

And HERE IS MY FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE AT THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES…

It was around 12 noon by the time we got down the metro and headed towards Thyagraj Sports Complex for Netball..

The security arrangements were very good.. The tickets were checked by bar code reader and when we finally reached the court, we were simply taken aback.. Oh My God !! The Infrastructure was marvellous.. The Stadium was totally astounding aur andar ghuste hi jo feel aayi thi that cannot be described in words here..

We just saw 5 minutes play of two unknown nations and since India’s match was at 5 pm we decided to go on to Siri Fort Sports Complex for Badminton..

The Inter-Venue Conveyance was not good.. Atleast there should have been some feeder buses from the nearest metro to the stadiums.. Anyways, thanks to it that I had a “once in a lifetime” experience of getting my head stuck in the automatic doors of the DTC Bus.. :P

When we reached the Badminton Court, India’s match was going on – P Prakash v/s Michael Brownlee (Falkland Islands) and we also joined the crowed in cheering “INDIA - INDIA”…  Home support obviously gave the advantage to Prakash and he easily posted a 21-8, 21-3 triumph.. Just after that we had another Indian Match – mixed doubles this time – and Rupesh Kumar and Ashwini Ponnappa also zoomed past Steve Hansley and Camille Alisen of Seychelles very easily by 21-8, 21-14..

Although againt minnows yet it was a wonderful feeling to see Indians winning LIVE…

After watching Badminton games we had some relishing Chaat and finally went to the last venue of the day – Major Dhyanchand National Stadium for Hockey match..

The Women’s Hockey match India v/s South Africa was slated to start at 6:30 PM..

And we somehow managed to reach the stadium by 6:15 (This was another wonderful experience – running, clicking pics and running again on hearing the Crowd Cheering from the Stadium)..

But wait, as we reached the Gate No. 3, a 1.5 km long line awaited us to join them for the security check.. By the time we entered the stadium it was 7:15 and India was already ahead by 3-0.. Although we missed 1^st half of our 1^st match yet I should really praise the Indian Security on how quickly they checked all the people and advanced them in..

The moment I entered the stadium I was left dumb-struck.. Such an awesome field.. Just like the one we had seen in Chak-de India… 

The stadium was full as around 15,000 tickets for this game were sold.. We seated ourselves at a comfortable place and the 2^nd half began shortly… The 2^nd half of this match was not good for Indians as the Africans scored a goal.. But India finally won it by 3-1..

Now was the time for our last match of the day – India v/s Scotland (Mens).. This match had a lot of aggressiveness and we were given many moments to cheer as India scored two superb goals within the first ten minutes.. Best moment of the game was when an Indian Player came out of nowhere, dived on the field to stop a hit, got up and took the ball all the way to Scotland’s D chasing down 4 of their players.. (Although he could not convert it into a goal).. Throughout the match India outplayed Scotland in every dimension of the game and finally won it by 4-nil..

What a fantastic day we had.. Starting with the Paranthas at ParantheWali Gali in Chandni Chowk.. Seeing India win all the four matches that we saw.. And Seeing many other things at Delhi as well (jinka Pilani mein sookha hai.. :P ) and finally finishing off with meal at mall in Gurgaon..

I think this should be enough to shut the mouths of those who said that India Can’t host these games.. Coz India really rocked at this CWG.. Finished 2^nd in the medal tally with 101 medals..

And also kept its words, “You came as friend and will go as a FAMILY”