Dhan dazzles even in guest appearance

Namrata Shah, a gold medallist at the 1982 New Delhi games, represented another sporting success and trod the Poligras pitch along with the India’s spearhead in an exhibition match that pitted Mayor’s XI against Dhanraj’s XI.

The result was hardly the issue. The cheers that greeted Dhanraj as he took the pitch showed how the city has taken him into its heart. And the nation’s golden lad was in no mood to disappoint.

Dazzling skills flowed in the brief encounter as `Dhan’ had his very own people in raptures with his trademark reverse hit that brushed the crosspiece. A goal followed from the cynosure’s blade it seemed inevitable he would score!

Everyone expected him too. Not for nothing is Indian hockey’s mega star a household name in Pune. A colossus, one might think going by Pimpri-Chinchwad Mayor Hanumantrao Bhosle’s opinion expressed in his speech that `Dhanraj won the gold at Bangkok’ … no mention of the team!

The bouquets and tributes kept flowing. The powada, showered unabated praise on the top goal-scorer at Bangkok. The specially composed Marathi folk tune, however, set the record straight. The team as a whole were emphatically lauded.

Endearing scenes after the match provided succour for Indian hockey but especially for Pune hockey. Mobbed by schoolkids and other autograph hunters, Dhanraj obliged with a smile. Till, for a change, the wrists that powered many a famous victory grew tired.

Varkey and Somesh received the attention they deserved as fans stepped up to deliver a compliment and a pat on the shoulders. Namrata did not disappoint her many admirers and a contingent of school girls wielding sticks in another exhibition match must have found inspiration.

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation organised the testimonial for the nation’s heroes at Bangkok who have assisted Maharashtra at the National Games. Cash awards went out to the players, including Anil Aldrin, another member of the Bangkok squad, absent today because of national training duties for the forthcoming Indo-Pakistan series. The amounts varied, however. Dhanraj received Rs two lakh, with Rs 25,000 going to each of the others. Dhanraj and his teammates move to Mumbai to be felicitated by the Bombay Hockey Association tomorrow. While the nation still goes ga ga over the Bangkok triumph, the players, now dropped from the national squad on the pretext of providing a break, must have mixed feelings.

But if the resilience, displayed in the humdinger against the Koreans in the Bangkok final is any indication, Dhan and company should be back for the challenge at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.