Leander Paes is the toast of the nation, having participated in a record seven Summer Olympics. Shiva Keshavan is a virtual unknown despite having taken part in six winter editions of the Games. Average Indians might be hard-pressed at recalling even the names of the venues of these six Winter Games, but hey, in India,…

आबादी बमुश्किल चार हज़ार, पर हॉकी ओलम्पियनों की भरमार, जलंधर छावनी के बगल में बसा ग्राम संसारपुर, अंग्रेजों को देख-देख लड़कों को चढ़ा हॉकी का सुरूर, शहतूत की टहनी कर गई कुंडी का काम, धागों को बांध माताओं ने दिया खुद्दो का नाम, खेल ‘खुद्दो-कुंडी’ पहुँच गए एम्स्टर्डम ठाकुर चंद,         (ओलंपिक 1928) धीरे-धीरे हॉकी बन…

A gangly 21- year old Civil Engineering student from Portland, Oregon, United States had arrived in Mexico City to test his new jumping technique at the Olympic level. He had been enjoying some success at the nationals, and had managed to qualify with the best jump of 2.20m. Dick Fosbury had found it difficult to…