Baichung Bhutia..... Torch Bearer of Indian Football

Baichung Bhuita, name that symbolizes the Indian Football Team for most of us. The personality who has been in the news very frequently and is seen as the only ray of hope of the National Football team.

Bhutia(born on 15 December,1976 in Sikkim ) comes from a Buddhist background, and is by conviction an atheist. Former India goalkeeper Bhaskar Ganguly spotted his talent and hence gifted us with a such a stellar performer.

In 1993, at the age of sixteen, he joined the professional East Bengal Club in Calcutta. In 1995, he moved to JCT Mills, Phagwara, which went on to win the India National Football League that year. He was named "1996 Indian Player of the Year" and has won numerous other awards since then.
In 1997 he returned to East Bengal, and became team captain in the 1998-99 season. Baichung Bhutia has the unique distinction of scoring the only hatrick in the Derby Clashes between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, when he registered the same in East Bengal's 4-1 triumph in 1997 Federation Cup Semi Final. In 1999 he travelled overseas to play for Bury F.C. after unsuccessful trials with both Fulham F.C. and Aston Villa F.C. with the move improving his conditioning and strategy. In 2002 he returned to India and played for the Mohun Bagan AC for a year before returning again to the East Bengal Club, helping them to win the Asean Cup (Association of South East Asian Nations) Club Championship. He signed up to play for Perak, the Malaysian championship club, from August to October 2003 and returning to East Bengal for the regular season. He continued to play for East Bengal till the end of 2005-2006 season. In 2006, he joined Mohun Bagan AC and has remained with them since then. He has recently renewed his contract for a further two years from 2008 to 2010 with the Mohun Bagan.

The Sikkimese government has built a stadium, the Baichung Stadium in Namchi, the district headquarters, in honor of Baichung. He is one of the most popular figures in the state and is considered as a role model to many Sikkimese as well to people from other states of India.

In 2008, Bhutia was solicited to run with the Olympic torch in India, but he refused to carry the torch to show support for the Tibetan independence movement. "I sympathise with the Tibetan cause. I'm against violence but I thought I should stand by the Tibetan people in their fight," Bhutia said. He was the first sportsman to refuse carrying the Olympic torch.

But he is coming this year to hold SPARDHA TORCH. So ITians get ready to see the most admired Indian Footballer at SPARDHA 09.Don't miss the chance to get inspired from his passion for sports.

Legend:3

This edition we catch up with the table tennis captain of ITBHU- Yogesh Singh.Rawat

Q: Please tell us about your achievements in and before IT.

Y: I have been a part of the ITBHU table tennis team which has been winning in Spardha for the past 3 years, captaining it since 2 years. I also represented BHU in the East Zone Inter University Table Tennis Championships. I have been a National player since 1997, having played Senior-level Nationals in 2002. I was also deemed the Best Hockey Player in my city Almora.

Q: Who do you think is most likely to take your place among the younger players?

Y: The current team vice-captain, Niranjan Meena(2^nd year Electronics).

Q: What are your expectations from Spardha ’09?

Y: We want to bag the gold for the fourth year running!

Q. What are your plans? Do you intend to play TT in the future?

Y: I intend to pursue table tennis very actively in the coming future. I have secured placement in a company that regularly organizes table tennis tournaments. I intend to continue my sport

Q. What is your most memorable moment in your career at IT?

Y: Fulfilling my senior Vaibhav’s dream when we bagged the first gold during my first year.

Q: Which opponent would you advise your teammates to be wary of?

Y: The MNNIT team gave us stiff competition last year and we expect they will come forth this year with all guns blazing.

Q.Any message for the IT Junta?

Y: The sports scene is very happening in our college. Get involved! Be there to cheer us. We are looking forward to your support!

By:Aviral

LEGENDS:2

Siddharth Khandelwal

Striker, Football.

Ajmer, Rajasthan.

Q: Could you tell us your achievements in and before you joined IT?

R: In school I was decorated as the Best District Player in Ajmer. I was also selected to play for the Nationals twice. After coming to IT, my hostel team in IT has won the Adel Memorial Cup three times in a row. More importantly we have clinched Silver at Spardha ’06 and Gold at Spardha ’07.

Q: What have you gained from playing football for IT?

R: Temperament. But I must add that I play football purely out of passion. I simply love playing the game.

Q: Do you intend to continue playing in the future?

R: Unlikely. I have decided to pursue my MS from the United States. It remains to be seen if I can give football the time and energy it deserves.

Q: Who in your opinion will take your place in the IT team once you graduate?

R: Deepak Singh, from 4^th year MNC. He’s an excellent player with great finishing abilities

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Q: Tell us something interesting about yourself that very few people know.

R: I wish you had given me this questionnaire earlier so I could think about my replies beforehand. Jokes apart, many people don’t know that my physique till class 5^th was such that I couldn’t play football

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Q: What are your expectations from Spardha ’09?

R: Since we couldn’t get gold last year, I’d like to remedy that by grabbing 1^st place this year.

Q: What is your most memorable moment in your career at IT?

R: The semi-finals at Udghosh ’06. We lost, but we played a fantastic match. That match, I will never forget.

Q: Anything you’d like to say to the IT Junta?

R: Yeah, I’d like you to come and watch all or matches, we need your support. Also I’d like to tell my juniors to practice hard and show more commitment. Playing for IT is a privilege you shouldn’t take lightly.

By:Samanyu

LEGENDS:I

‘Legends’ are a series of interviews of some of the most prolific performers IT has produced. This is a tribute to their performances as they play their farewell Spardha.

Ranjit “DON”

Spiker, Volleyball

Shikohabad, U.P.

Q: Please tell us your achievements in and before IT.

R: Well, before IT, I participated in the Open State Tournament in ’03 where my team won silver. After joining IT BHU, I was part of the team that came 2^nd in the Interfaculty meet in ’06 and ’07. I vice captained the team that won gold in Spardha ’06 and ’07 and bronze in IIT-K’s Udghosh ’06. I was captain of the team that won gold in Spardha ’08. In academics I was Joint Secy. of the Civil Society in ’06-’07.

Q: What have you gained from playing for IT?

R: Most importantly I have gained temperament to tackle critical situations and have learnt the value of team spirit. It has benefited me in the HR round of job interviews and of course helped me gain a good name in my Institute.

Q: Who do you think is most likely to take your place among the younger players?

R: Vikas from 3^rd year Metallurgy.

Q: What are your expectations from Spardha ’09?

R R: I hope that the participation is high and of good quality so that the youngsters may gain valuable experience. Also, Spardha should be memorable for all the 4^th yearites as it will be their final tourney before they leave college.

Q. What are your plans? Do you intend to play volleyball in the future?

R: Yes, I’m planning to join a club because without playing volleyball I feel incomplete at the end of the day.

Q. What is your most memorable moment in your career at IT?

R R: The Spardha ’06 volleyball finals where I scored four points straight to push our team ahead from a lag of 11-13. I still remember the huge crowd that day and the intense pressure to perform well for the honour of my team.

Q.Any message for the IT Junta?

R: Sports makes a man perfect, physically as well as mentally. It develops one’s decision making ability and is helpful in our professional career. Come out of the hostels and participate in Spardha anyway you can. In last all I can say is SPARDHA ROCKS!

Interviewer:Samanyu