Monsoon rain makes Wellington in the Nilgiris chilly. But Monsoon rain in 2021 has brought with it a fever, popularly known as Olympics fever.
Though soldiers in the Madras Regimental Centre here and the local population like sports and games, they are not obsessed with it. This time it is different because two sons of MRC Wellington, the oldest regiment of Indian Army, are in Tokyo donning the country’s colours in the track and field events of the 2021 Summer Olympics.
It is after a long time jawans from MRC Wellington, popularly known as Thampis, have made it to the Indian contingent. Arokya Rajiv (30), a subedar hailing from Tiruchirapppalli district and Kolothum Thudi Irfan ( 31), a naib subedar are the representatives of MRC who are expected to add power and strength to the Indian challenge in Tokyo.
Both the challengers from MRC are not just pushovers but seasoned athletes who have won many national and international titles, according to Hemand Raj, the Army coach who oversaw the training of the two Thampis. Rajiv is an Arjuna Awardee who has excelled in 400 meters race. He is a bronze medalist in the 2014 Asian Games held at South Korea. He will be contributing his might to the 4X400 meter relay team
Irfan has set the track in the iconic Thangaraj Stadium in Wellington ablaze , if coach Hemand Raj is to be believed. The Malappuram youth has become a cynosure in the high ranges with his scintillating style in the 20 km walk. Hemand Raj and commander of the camp Brig Rajeswar Singh are hoping that the jawans would do India proud at Tokyo.
Age may not be on their side as the quality of Indian athletes would start showing a downward trend once they cross the age of 30.
“We are confident that the duo, laced with grit, determination and hard work would not let us down,” said Brig Singh.
Peter Thangaraj, after whom the stadium has been named, was Asia’s best goal keeper during the 1950s and 1960s. He was the member of the Indian team that narrowly lost the bronze in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
This is the third time Thampis are featuring in the Olympics squad since 1960, according to the official spokesman of the MRC. Naib Subedar K Ganapathi had taken part in the 2016 Rio Olympics Games.
When Rajiv and Irfan take to the tracks in Japan, Nigiris would get reverberated with “Thampi Kaisa? Tiger Jaisa!” and “Veera Vel! Vetri Vel!!” (the Centre’s centuries old war cry) would reverberate across the Hills. Special Poojas would be held in the names of the Thampis on the days they compete in the Olympics.