Thursday, August 11, 2005

Youth Icon of the year 2005 Sachin Tendulkar


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Originally uploaded by Jeevan_.
Sachin Tendulkar’s date with destiny began on a cold November morning in Karachi when as a 16 years and 205 days old teenager, he was given his first Test cap against Pakistan. Trust onto the centrestage his mettle would be tested against the fire and ferocity of the Pakistan fast bowlers empowered by the pace trio Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis and the leg spin wizard,Abdul Qadir. India’s score card 4 for 41 when Sachin walked out into the middle on the second day of the first Test. Unless the youngster performed, defeat was unavoidable. If he did, he would be a hero.

Sachin showed a remarkable passion for cricket at an early age and by 10, was batting with a cricket cat far bigger than him. Like most other Indian children from a middle class background his initial cricket sessions were spent on the road playing in the bylance of Bandra, near his residents, where cricket is community passion. In the huge Shivaji Park, coaching classes for youngsters were held every summer. Tendulkar took part in these camps under the tutelage of his coach Ramakant Achrekar, whome he calls on even today before every match.

The Third son of four sibling, 3 brothers and a sister, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was born on April 24, 1973 to Ramesh and Rajini Tendulkar. His father is a Marathi poet and writer, his mother worked for the LIC. Ajit the second brother, is credited with the promotion of the younger Tendulkar into the Cricket field and Sachin still turns to him for advice or cricket strategy since he feels nobody knows his game better than Ajit. Sachin grew up in Sahitya Sahawas Colony in Bandra. He was also a great fan of Tennis.

Sachin hit his first test century (119) in the summer of 1990 against the England team at Old Trafford leading India to victory at a crucial movement when it was chasing a total of 408. At 17 Sachin became the third youngest player to score a test hundred and went on to brave the fierce desert storm at Sharjah and the fiercer Australia bowling to lead India to the final of the Sharjah Cup. Then on his 25th Birthday, India met Australia in the final of the Coca Cola Cup to chase 27 runs. Sachin was unstoppable. He notched up 134 runs and India was home.

No wouder this little man is compared to the great Dan Bradman, the world’s greater cricketer. He become the highest run taker in One Day International history in a match against New Zealand at Nairobi on October 15, 2000 by surpassing the previous record of 9378 runs. On September 5, 2002, Sachin appeared in his 100th test match at The Oval, England, making him the forth Indian to reach the prestigious milestone. He is a Right hand batsman, his latest ODI runs is13,642 and test runs is10,134. Today he enjoys a super star status in India.

Answer form Icon no 1

What keeps your feet on the ground?

My family for sure. Without my family’s support, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I have. My wife, brother and everyone at home, if they find any change in me they notice it before anyone else. They tell me to focus on what will happen next rather than what you have achieved.

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