Registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India under R.N.I 53640/91
Vol. XXXIV No. 8, August 1-15, 2024
On a surprisingly pleasant, and what some unadulterated Chennaiites like myself would even describe as ‘practically chilling,’ Tuesday morning in July (16.7.24), three senior Olympians – Vasudevan Baskaran, Charles Cornelius, and Muneer Sait – gathered at GRT Grand, T. Nagar, to share insights from their illustrious careers with the press. The event, titled Forgotten Olympians, was organisedby Sharon Ply as part of their ‘#iamstrongest Awards’ series to celebrate the contributions of these doyens and their fellow Olympians, Victor John Philips and Krishnamurthy Perumal.
The theme of this year’s event is particularly appropriate. With all eyes on Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics, now seems the most opportune moment to venerate these legends. In a conversation with Madras Musings, Mr. Charles Cornelius shared what it meant to participate in the Olympics back in the seventies and how the experience unfolded.
Hailing from a defence family with an unshakable penchant for sports in Punjab, although Tamil by ethnicity, Charles Cornelius naturally took to athletics very early in life. One of his early coaches suggested he takes up field hockey, as the sport enjoyed particular appreciation in Punjab. Charles soon proved his strength as a right forward and quickly qualified for the state and national teams. He eventually secured a position in the Punjab Police too.
In 1972, Charles geared up to represent India in field hockey at the Munich Olympics. By this time, following the assistance of his coach, he became a professional goalkeeper, although admittedly he wasn’t excited about it at first. While the Olympics have always been an extravagant spectacle garnering global attention and enthusiasm, the affair seemed then fairly modest compared to the unparalleled phenomenon it has become today. Even the flight tickets to Germany had to be arranged by a senior in the Police Department, who raised funds in-house. For Charles, who had only travelled third-class in railways with his peers for matches within the country, this certainly seemed like an upgrade.
“In Punjab, you are someone only if you won gold. Anything less than that wasn’t considered worthy of celebration,” remarked Charles. The expectations were high, so was the pressure. It was a particularly tough year for India, as its opponents (Pakistan, West Germany, and the Netherlands) were, at least, equally capable. In a particularly gruelling match with Pakistan, India emerged victorious. India bagged bronze that year in field hockey. Though it didn’t win gold, it was still a momentous year for India. Still, it was quite hard for Charles to face the folks back in Punjab after his return since they were disappointed with him for not winning gold.
Charles won silver in the Hockey World Cup the following year and has led a remarkable career as a goalkeeping trainer.
As the Olympic mania defines the zeitgeist at the current moment, as we follow, with bated breath, the happenings of the Paris Olympics, what are some of Charles’ anticipations? Well, it’s truly anybody’s game, he mentions. Everyone is greatly qualified. Plus, the times have changed (for good, mostly). Every expense of the Olympians is wonderfully sponsored, unlike during Charles’s time. Also, some aspects of the core nature of the game itself have undergone alterations over the years. For instance, what would have been considered a foul back then, like lifting the ball and passing or turning away from the goalkeeper while feinting to deceive them, have now become accepted as a part of mainstream hockey. So, Charles reveals, it has become harder to judge the match using the standards he held sacred throughout his career.
While technically hockey is the national sport of India, the fact that it is nowhere close, in participation or engagement, to cricket or football is worth bemoaning. Every school must make hockey compulsory. We can’t afford to waste any more time, and the mandate must be published immediately, feels Charles.