Thursday, March 20, 2008

Hail P T Usha ... I respect you to the core...

This blog is related to Hockey in a indirect way.

Have a look at this article on Rediff Sports: (copy pasted below, as well)
http://www.rediff.com/sports/2008/mar/17usha.htm

The point here is not who is great and who is not.
Anju Bobby George was asked a question by the media that why doesn't she has P T Usha as her idol? (How media persons reached to this question can be very interesting...let's not worry about it). Anju George must be an honest person and she voiced her opinion without worrying about the consequences. She says that she doesn't see anything worthwhile in Usha that she should treat P T Usha as her idol.
But it's not simple here when it comes to public statements. There is a potential news here, dude! So, P T Usha is approached with Anju George's comment.
P T Usha has 2 choices:
1) Start off a massive controversy as to how a youngster can treat her like this, she doesn't have any knowledge of times of 80s and she is unfit to say so. She never participated in LA Olympics in 1984? The icing on the cake for P T Usha could be by comparing their achievements and then coming out of it 'victorious'.

2) Express your discontent but give a statement that douses off the matter completely and you come out in flying colours!

This is what she did! .. This is what I call professionalism. That is why I respect you, Ms P T Usha. You have set a marvellous example of professionalism and maturity.
You may say that P T Usha wasn't couragous enough to fight back or avoided controversy. Yeah, may be. But still to give such a statement makes me respect her. She commands respect and not demands it...!

I feel, this is a wonderful example of professionalism for all any sports in our country!


For my reference:
PT Usha has not taken kindly to Anju Bobby George's remarks that the "Payyoli Express" was not a world class athlete in her heydays, but said she would not comment on the ace long jumper's credentials as "she is just a child."
Anju, in a television interview, had said though she would not like to belittle Usha's achievements but would not consider her as a world class athlete.
She had obliquely hinted that Usha finished fourth in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics [Images] 400m hurdles because of the boycott by athletes from the erstwhile Eastern bloc.
When asked why Usha was not her idol, Anju said since the Kerala [Images] runner was not a world class athlete she could not be her idol.
"I am looking up to only world standard athletes," Anju had said in an interview to Malayala Manorama Television channel, adding "Milkha singh and Usha are only Asian level athletes."
Reacting to Anju's remarks, Usha said she would not want to hurt Anju now as that could affect her preparations for the Beijing [Images] Olympics.
"India is expecting a medal from Anju at the Beijing Olympics. If I answer to her comments, that will hurt her. I am not prepared to put her in such a mental state," she said.
"How can she (Anju) decide on my credentials? International Amateur Atheletic Federation had selected me in 1985 and 1986 as one of the best eight atheletes in the world," a hurt Usha responded.
"Anju is like a small child to me. I have seen her grow before my eyes. She has to grow further," Usha saidPT Usha has not taken kindly to Anju Bobby George's remarks that the "Payyoli Express" was not a world class athlete in her heydays, but said she would not comment on the ace long jumper's credentials as "she is just a child."
Anju, in a television interview, had said though she would not like to belittle Usha's achievements but would not consider her as a world class athlete.
She had obliquely hinted that Usha finished fourth in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics [Images] 400m hurdles because of the boycott by athletes from the erstwhile Eastern bloc.
When asked why Usha was not her idol, Anju said since the Kerala [Images] runner was not a world class athlete she could not be her idol.
"I am looking up to only world standard athletes," Anju had said in an interview to Malayala Manorama Television channel, adding "Milkha singh and Usha are only Asian level athletes."
Reacting to Anju's remarks, Usha said she would not want to hurt Anju now as that could affect her preparations for the Beijing [Images] Olympics.
"India is expecting a medal from Anju at the Beijing Olympics. If I answer to her comments, that will hurt her. I am not prepared to put her in such a mental state," she said.
"How can she (Anju) decide on my credentials? International Amateur Atheletic Federation had selected me in 1985 and 1986 as one of the best eight atheletes in the world," a hurt Usha responded.
"Anju is like a small child to me. I have seen her grow before my eyes. She has to grow further," Usha said