A day filled with some excellent scenes from sports

Today I saw one of the most spirited and determined efforts in badminton - Taufik hidayat's dream run and the final game against Shon Seung-Mo of Korea. His determination to win gold is seen in every smash and brillaintly disguised drops that he plays through out the final. The massive power of his in-the-air smash and the finnesse of his drops simply make you think if he was asked to play this game again would he be able to do it. His performance could be compared to the brilliant Ardy Wiranata and the amazing Allan Budi Kusuma and the game they played in the '92 olympic final. Everytime I see displays such as these of sheer will propelling a person to perform at his very best I am compelled to stand in awe of the power of the human spirit.

Another brilliant game I saw where one of my hereos who actually lost his game - Jan Ove Waldner, the Mozart of table tennis. In Athens the table tennis genius was again the spectators- favourite. Jan-Ove impressed with his unique touch. His play was full of invention. His well known variations of service, service returns, and topspin with both backhand and forehand, won him many points. Decisive 4:1 victories against the Chinese tournament favourite Ma Lin and the German star Timo Boll were the result. No one expected such a great performance after a soul destroying year of injury. Finally Waldner fell to RYU Seung Min, whose speed was too much for the 39 year old.