With trepidation, towards glory

You might have thought they would be the only ones with the jumpy nerves.

You might have thought they would be the only ones with the jumpy nerves. But as the announcer fumbled, twice, you realised it was more than the awardees who were caught by the sense of occasion at the Arjuna Awards ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Some were stars, used to the camera8217;s sharp lights, some were caught completely by surprise by the large media gathering, but as they all tried to spot the known faces amongst themselves and the audience, you knew these minutes were being soaked in for life.

Once the new President took her place and the notes of the National Anthem rung in, the business end of the big day ushered in. The arena completely different, the feeling of nervous excitement that comes before a big match might feel something similar.

Kabaddi player Navneet Gautam summed it up later: 8220;We had all rehearsed it yesterday. But it was when you were standing out there, with all the delegates behind you, realising they are there because of you, that you understand how big it is.8221;

8220;When I stood there as they read out the achievements, my nerves were tingling. It was a strange excitement,8221; laughed squash player Saurav Ghosal, just 21 and already part of an elite band in Indian sport.

Not everyone was savouring the excitement though. For wrestler Geetika Jakhar the applause came twice, once after the announcement that she was the only woman player in her sport to be feted with the Award.

But the Haryana girl was just counting the seconds till it, believe it or not, got over. 8220;I was very nervous. It felt good, but I just wanted the announcer to finish fast,8221; she giggled later.

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Well-rehearsed steps they might have been, but then there were some who still faltered a bit. Like coach Varinder Singh, being given the Dhyanchand Award, who almost dropped his plaque as President Pratibha Patil handed it over.

Then there was Subhajit Saha. The table tennis player had his inter-institutional singles final yesterday, and couldn8217;t attend the rehearsal. 8220;I was sitting next to Saurav Ghosal, so asked him about the protocol. But it was mainly watch and follow the steps,8221; he said.

Ghosal though, probably spoke for everyone when he finished. 8220;From getting here to Delhi, to travelling up to Rashtrapati Bhavan, with the India Gate in the backdrop, it all felt magical. But there were a lot of us. The next time I want to be where Manavjit Singh Sandhu, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award recipient was today. That would feel something else.8221;