Promise Of Gold

By Author: ram kausik
Total Articles: 126
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India had some what a lukewarm experience at the 2012 London Olympics. As in, though India missed the prized gold medal, we were able to take home two silver and four bronze. India came in at the fifty fifth position in the Olympic Games medal standing. Not entirely disgraceful. Sure, it is five positions further behind the last ranking India received at the Olympics in 2008, with a tally of a singular gold and two bronze medals; but when you take into consideration the sheer total of medals by participants, the number eight can be regarded as a saving grace.

Much kudos to wrestler, Sushil Kumar; shooter, Vijay Kumar; boxer, Mary Kom, Tennis player, Saina Nehwal; shooter Gagan Narang; wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt; and the other valued participants for bringing India a lot of pride and glory. Many other representatives were part of other group sport activities like Badminton and Hockey.

One such player whose name should be mentioned is Birendra Lakra. Lakra was part of the team that competed in Men’s Hockey at the 2012 London Olympics. He has a sibling- Asunta Lakra who plays in the India women’s hockey team. He ...
... was thrust into the spot light when he scored the very first goal against France in the Olympic Hockey Qualifying Tournament. India had an amazing victory at the qualifiers after having defeated Begium, thanks to a goal caused as a result of an assist made by Lakra. This consequently helped India, after a hiatus of eight years, to the semi finals of the Championship trophy. This helped boost Birendra Lakra profile and he was chosen to compete at the Olympics.

He has previously represented the country in the 2012 Test Series against South Africa. He was part of the senior team that took part in the 2010 SAAF Games at Dhaka. He has also competed in the 2011 Champions Challenge Tournament in South Africa and the 2009 Youth Olympics at Sydney. In 2009, he along with his team mates represented their nation at the 2009 Junior World Cup in Singapore. Though much can’t be said about the Hockey team’s performance at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, hopefully, better training and recruitment of better players of Birendra Lakra statistics and caliber might return our national game to its former glory at the next Olympic Games. Who know? We might even be able to bag a gold medal.