The act of running a race with or with out hurdles, jumping, throwing of discus or javeli8n, held between individuals or teams, are together know as track and Field Events. Running race on tracks, which are specially made for the purpose, are called Track Events comprising the Field Events. The International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) governs the sport internationally and more than 200 member nations.
The modern Track and Field Events have their origin in the Olympic games of ancient Greece, which started more than 2,500 years ago. The dominate spirit of these events was mainly who could run the fastest, who could jump the highest or who could throw the modern Olympic motto of citius, Altius, Forties (faster, higher, stronger) is what events are all about.
The races range in length from a 50 meter dash to a marathon of 42 km 195 m. The shortest running events Rae called sprints or dashes. In this event, the athlete crouches at the starting line and starts running when the official fires the starter’s pistol. Sprinters place their feet against metal or plastic starting blocks located behind the starting line. The outdoor sprints consists of the 100-metre, 200-metre and 400-metre events Champions of this event include Jesses Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Evelyn Ashford, Carl Lewis, Florence Griffith Joyner and Michael Johnson of the United States; Harold Abrahams and Linford Christi tile of the United Kingdom; and Donovan Bailey of Canada.
Races ranging from 600 meters to 3,000 meters are known as middle distance events. Outstanding middle –distance3 performers over the years have included Paavo Nurmi of Finland; Roger Bannister of Britain, who was the first to break the 4-minute barrier in the mile; Jim Ryun of the United States; Sebastian Coe of the United Kingdom; and Noureddine Morceli of Algeria.
3,000 meters Runs longer than are considered distance events. The most common distance races are ones of 5,000 to 10’000 meters, and the marathon, which does not take place on a track but on please on a track but on paved roads. The long-distance runners have included languid Kristiansen and Grete Waitz of Norway, Email Zatopak of former Czechoslovakia, Frank Shorter of the United States, and Haile Gebrselassie of Ethippia. Cross- country races take place over rough, rolling terrain and can be as long as 14.5 km. Because of the varying conditions and sites, no world record is kept for cross- country racing. The relays are the only team event in track and field. Relays are split into four sections called legs, with one runner covering each, then passing a baton to the next runner. The baton pass must be completed within a 20 m long exchange zone, or team is disqualified.
The Hurdle events are dashes in which competitors must clear a series of ten barriers called hurdles. These are made of metal, wood or plastic. The hurdles are placed at equal distances over the course. The distance from the starting line to the first hurdle and the distance from the last hurdle to the finish line vary depending on the event. Success in hurdle race depends on sprinting smoothly while jumping over it, or if an athlete purposely knocks down hurdles.
The steeplechase covers 3,000 meters –seven and one-hail laps around a 400 meter track. On Each lap, runners must leap four hurdles that are 91 cm men and 76 cm for then leap into a sloping, 3.7 m long pool of shallow water.
Hurling is an ancient national game of Ireland. It is an outdoor stick-and –ball game between teams of 15 players sometimes it can even become dangerous.
Curling is played on a flat ice rink using flat –bottomed stones with metal handles attached to them. A tee or an iron pin is fixed in the ice at each end of the rink. The aim of the game is to slide the stones from one end of the rink to the other, getting them as near to the tee as possible.
Jai alai is one of the world’s fastest games. It is the native ball game of the Basques –a people who live in the Pyrenees Mountains in French and Spain. Jai alai balls can travel at over 240 kilometers per hour.
Dominoes is a game in which dominoes or `Bones’ are shuffled. The players must match their bones so that total ads up to five or a multiple of five.
Sculling is a rowing –style sports in which the rower uses two oars-one in each hand. In rowing each person uses a single oar.
Orienteering began in Sweden in 1918. It is like cross –country running with a map and compass. They key to success is accurate navigation at speed.
How it began
The word tennis comes from the French word `Tennez’ meaning `take it! Play!’ the game began Egypt, in
Persia and among the Arabs around the thirteenth century. The kings of France and England showed great interest in the game.
Skiing is one of the oldest forms of travel known to man! Skiing began as a sport in Norway. The town of Morgedal in Norway would be snowbound for long period of time. It was necessary to use skis to get about. So the game was born!
Cricket started in England in the fifteenth century. Old newspapers dating back to the 1700s have advertisements of cricket matches. Test cricket was played for the first time in 1877 between Australia and England.
The legendary English cricketer, Dr. w, g. Grace, began layi8ng at the age of nine, and carried on till he was 61.
Using horses for racing seems to be one of the oldest sports enjoyed by man. Horse races were held in Egypt, Babylonia, and Syria. The modern form of horse racing started in England in the twelfth century.
Badminton, adapted from children’s game called battledore and shuttlecock, takes its name from Badminton, England, where it was first played in 1873.
The oldest board game known is about 4500 years old and was found in the runs of Ur, Iraq. The rules of the game have not survived.
In 1365, Edward III of England tired to ban football because it distracted people from archery practice, needed as was training.
The athletes in the first modern Olympic Games, held 1896, were only men. Women were allowed in the games in 1900.
Basketball began in the United States. The US has won the gold medal in basketball in the Olympic each time since 1936, with the excerptions of 1972, 1980 and 1988.
An expert at karate can break several thick planks of food or bricks with one blow of a bare hand or foot.
All of us need to have rest and fun. We have fun when we do things we enjoy. This is called recreation. Games, music programs, puppet shows and fairs are the different types of recreational activities.
Children love to play. Outdoor games help the children use their energy. It also makes them happy. They also get to meet their friends.
Games are fun
Ragini and her classmates like Tuesdays and Thursday. This is because they have a games period on these days. During the games period the children play cricket, basketball, football and Kho-Kho. Some children even play indoor games like chess and carom.
Ragini’s school provides all the things needed for the different games. The children return the bats, balls, racquets, shuttlecocks and other things to their sports teacher when the games period is over.
Rohit is Ragini’s classmate. One of his legs was affected with polio, due to which he limps. But that does not stop him from playing. His classmates love to play with him. They include him an all the games.
Playing fairly
Sometimes children get arguments and quarrels while playing. If that happens, you should take the help of your sports teacher or any other elder to settle the issue. To avoid fights we must follow the rules of the game.
Even grown-up people get into arguments while plying. Each sport has an umpire or a referee to see that the game is played fairly and according to the rules.
Women power
There is a belief that girls cannot play as well the boys. This is not true. Sania Mirza (tennis), Karnam Malleswari (weight lifting), PT Usha (athletics), Anju Bobby George (long jump), and Anjali Bhagawat (shooting), have won many medals at the international level. They have proved that girls are equally tough competitors.
Play together
The sports teacher in Ragini’s school encourages all boys and girls to play together. They play cricket, badminton, tennis and chess.
We must play with every one. The more children there are the more fun it will be. Next time when you play a game, try to include as many children as you can. For example, when you play cricket you can make new rules.
Each child gets to face only six balls. So many more children can be included in the team instead of just 11. This will also make the game more enjoyable.
Games at home
After school and on holidays, Ragini plays with her friends in the neighborhood. Hari is the son of a helper in Ragini’s house. He also plays with them. Together they play hopscotch, hide and seek, and blind man’s bluff.
Hari is an expert in spinning tops. He knows a lot of tricks. He is also good at flying kites. In the kite-flying competition that children have on 15 August, Hari leads the group.
At the fair
Ragini is very excited. She will go to a fair with her family.
There are many stalls at the fair. The games stalls are very popular with the children. There are many games where one can win prizes too. Delicious food from different states is also available.
Gautam Gambhir Rising Star Player
We all knows that Gautam Gambhir had made his position in indian cricket team. In starting he was going in and out but now he is fix and regular performing player in indian team. In every field test, oneday and 20-20 he is playing very well and providing sachin or sehwag good partnership. So lets know about this rising star player.
Gautam gambhir was born on 14 October 1981 in delhi. He had studied from Modern School New Delhi. Hight 168 cm. He is a left hand opening batsman.Gambhir was selected in 2000 for the first intake of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. After that he started playing for delhi state. He and sehwag was also a opening partner in delhi team for long time. He made his debut in ODI Bangaladesh Vs India on 11april 2003 at Dhaka he scored 11 run in that match. He made his Test Debut Australia Vs india 3 Nov 2004 at Mumbai he scored only 3 run. And In 20-20 Scotland Vs India at durbun 13 Sep 2007 but match was not played.
In his ODI Carier he had played 86 matches with 2815 runs of 37.03 avg highest score 150 ,6 hundreds and 18 fiftys. In test he had played 26 test matches ,2386 runs with 54.22 avg highest score 206 ,7 hundreds and 10 fiftys. In 20-20 he had played 17 matches , scored 476 runs with average of 29.75, highest score is 75 and made 5 fiftys. Hope he will score more in future and brake a big records of other players.
When it comes to commitment while playing for India, not many can match Leander Paes. Mahesh Bhupathi, Leander's Paes partner played with as much distinction for India. While Leander Paes got his due, Mahesh Bhupathi never got the attention, publicity or fame he deserved. This is probably due to the fact that Mahesh Bhupathi is more of an introvert unlike Leander Paes who is an extrovert. Mahesh Bhupathi holds many records for India which many of us are not aware of or have forgotten.
Mahesh Bhupathi is the first ever Indian to win a Grand Slam at senior level competitions for India. Mahesh Bhupathi won the first ever mixed Grand Slam by an Indian , first ever doubles Grand Slam by an Indian. Mahesh Bhupathi is the first and only Indian to win a career Grand Slam in mixed doubles.
1997 French Open Mixed Doubles Champion:- When Mahesh Bhupathi partnered Rika Hiraki and won the French Mixed Doubles Champions he became the first Indian ever to win a Grand Slam at senior level. Indians had won singles competitions at junior Grand slams but they have found the transition from junior to senior level tough and could never make it big at the senior level.
1999 French Open Men Doubles Champion:- When Mahesh Bhupathi partnered long time friend and rival Leander Paes to win the French Open, he became the first ever Indian to win a Grand Slam in Mens Doubles. That was also the first time when an all Indian pair won a doubles at Grand Slams.
1999 doubles world record with Leander Paes:- In 1999 Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes became the only pair in the history of mens doubles to reach the finals of all four Grand Slam events. The pair were ranked No.1 on 26th April 2009. Mahesh Bhupathi was also ranked No.1 in individual ranking of doubles teams as well. The pair consistently made semi finals and finals of Grand Slam tournaments. They established such a big reputation that they came be known as "Indian Express". The pair brought a flair and passion to doubles events which was lacking prior to their entry on the international scene.
2006 Australian Open Mixed Doubles Champion:- Mahesh Bhupathi won the Australian Open mixed doubles championship partnering Martina Hignis. When the pair of Bhupathi and Hignis won the even, Mahesh Bhupathi became the first and only Indian to win a Career Grand Slam in Mixed Doubles. Only 8 players ever in the history of Mixed Doubles have the distinction of completing a career grand slam in mixed doubles. Australian Open is the only Grand Slam which has eluded Mahesh Bhupathi in men's doubles. If he wins the Australian Open, Mahesh Bhupathi would have been the holder of a rare record of a career grand slam in both Mixed Doubles and Mens Doubles. For the record though Mahesh Bhupathi has never won the Australian open in men's doubles he has managed to make the finals on more than one occassion.
2009 Australian Open:- Mahesh Bhupathi partnered Sania Mirza to win the mixed doubles championship at Australian Open. This was the first ever time an all Indian pair won a Grand Slam in mixed doubles.
Grand Slam Record:- Mahesh Bhupathi has made the finals in 19 Grand Slams, winning 11 each of them which is an Indian Record. Mahesh Bhupathi also holds the record of winning mixed doubles Grand slams with different partners which goes on to show that it is his contribution which matters most in contributing to a win.
Davis Cup:- Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi have one of the best records as a pair in Davis Cup. Their record is one of the best in the history of Davis Cup of all time. Whenever India plays a Davis Cup the Indian team and their opponent plan strategies for singles and reverse singles ties only, as the doubles tie is treated as a foregone conclusion of an Indian win.
In today world when print and electronic media hype every performance especially that of crickters, Mahesh Bhupathi has never been given his due. Mahesh Bhupathi performances make him a legend in his lifetime and an all time legend in the history of Indian Sports.
Regards
Satish
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