A single, faded, wall-hanging of Raju the Tiger juts out of one back wall of the new, posh athletics stadium at Balewadi, the venue for the third edition of the week-long Commonwealth Youth Games beginning in Pune on October 12.
Fourteen years ago, Pune hosted the third edition of the National Games, where mascot Raju had then star-performer Shiamak Davar regaling the packed house with his moves and verve.
Jigrr — the current mascot, also a tiger, is goofier than Raju — and all dapper with his white, grinning beard and blue cap tipped back like Lleyton Hewitt. He should start wondering about the future of the athletes he’ll lead out at the opening ceremony on Sunday. They joke here is that the only career which took off after those National Games in 1994 was dancer Shiamak Davar’s.
The 2008 edition sees the presence of some of India’s biggest names in sport — shuttler Saina Nehwal and swimmer, flagbearer, Veerdhawal Khade, who in Phelpsian style has vowed to go for five gold medals.
Future stars
There are also future stars like Yuki Bhambri in tennis, and the next generation of shooters and boxers.
The Army Sports Institute, after a listless 2008 Olympics, will test out their new batch of pugilists — with the Beijing medal-inspiration, as fresh-minted as the coats of turpentine paint, making its way onto buildings and even mountains. Yes, one hillock is actually being splashed with paint here, as part of finishing touches to the event.
... contd.
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