New Delhi: It was ‘Sandeep Mania’ at its peak with a near-capacity crowd cheering ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh as he did a ‘high-five’ to fulfill India’s ‘London Dreams’ at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium today.
Once known as the ‘enfant terrible’ of Indian hockey, Sandeep scripted the finest hour of his chequered international career as Michael Nobbs’ men thrashed France 8-1 in the final of the qualification tournament.
If you thought that the chants of ‘Singh is King’ only reverberates around the stadium when Yuvraj Singh hits a six or Harbhajan Singh takes a ‘five-for’ one should have heard the noise that Sandeep created each time he found the France net.
First goal was ‘Sadda Haq’, second goal was ‘Mauja hi Mauja’ and it went on.
Sandeep had stated that “something special” was there for the final and when the song ‘Lakshya ko haar hal mein paana hain’ was played, it sounded more apt than ever before.
The Indian flag was out of the closet and was being fluttered continuously in support of the team. The fans screamed their lungs out every time the ‘man in blue’ run in with the ball into the rival camp.
A bunch of boys with the tri-colour painted in their chest cheered for every move the Indians made and fluttered the national flag.
The celebrations for the holiday turn-out more or less began at the interval itself with India leading 3-1 and it reached a crescendo as Sandeep Singh kept converting penalty-corners soon on resumption. Not one, two, or three, he pumped in five in all this evening.
For hockey lovers seeing India win a final after a long time at the historic stadium, which was the venue of the first Asian Games in 1951, was a pleasurable experience.
The crowd gave a standing ovation every time the players scored a goal and there was plenty of it in the match with India and France pumping three and one goals respectively in the first half itself.
Athens Olympics silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who failed to find a place in the Indian shooting team for London Olympics, also turned up to watch the Men in Blue play.
For coach Michael Nobb the celebration began only when the eighth goal was struck and that, too, a mere hug for someone on the bench. The Australian showed remarkable equanimity even after the match as he went about patting and hugging the players without much emotion. The players enjoyed the moment and the crowds were seen dancing even after the presentation ceremony. (IANS)