From Amitabh Bachchan to Gagan Ullalmath!

Amitabh Bachchan with the Olympic torch

This writer is a die-hard fan of Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. The ‘Big B’ made the nation proud by carrying the Olympic torch, at Southwark, London. Not even in his wildest dreams, would the ‘Big B’, have imagined of carrying the Olympic torch. He may have won awards and got worldwide recognition as an actor, but carrying the Olympic torch may surely not have been on his wishlist.

Paan Singh Tomar, athlete to dacoit!

Also, there is the case of the late Paan Singh Tomar, an athlete who represented India in the 1958 Asian Games in steeple chase running. Tomar, who had had his National records unmatched for almost a decade, served in the Indian Army, and cleared steeplechase – barriers (Unlike the barriers in hurdles, the steeple chase barriers do not give way, thus resulting in a trip). Despite all his promise, Tomar could never make it to the highest level. Tomar’s story very interesting and disheartening as well. Poverty and family disputes led him to become a dacoit in the notorious Chambal valley and he suffered a gory death in a police encounter in 1981. ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ had a Bollywood movie made in 2011 in his memory.

Ullalmath got a wild card entry for the Olympic swimming team

Another great Olympic story is that of Gagan Ullalmath. Gagan made a wild card entry in the Indian Olympic swimming team to London. Ullalmath, who quit his engineering study for swimming, worked relentlessly with the aim of making it to the Olympics, though it was a tad disappointing to see a few more deserving swimmers with the required Olympic -qualification timing, miss out on the big stage.