For MM Somaya, the last few days have been a sweet kind of busy.
Before flying to the Asian Games as a deputy chef de mission, the 1980 Olympic gold medallist was part of a group that collaborated with Amitabh Bachchan
For MM Somaya, the last few days have been a sweet kind of busy.
India바카라s former hockey captain and Olympic gold medallist landed in Hangzhou on Sunday as a deputy chef de mission for the Indian Asian Games contingent. A couple of days prior, on September 15 to be precise, Somaya had tea with Amitabh Bachchan at 바카라Janak바카라, the Juhu bungalow where the actor has his office.
Also at the meeting were Abhinav Bindra, winner of India바카라s first individual Olympic gold, and badminton Olympian Aparna Popat.
The purpose of the gathering was the poster launch of 바카라Olympics In Reel Life바카라, a film and photography festival on the Olympics. It has been curated by Film Heritage Foundation, headed by Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, and the Olympic Museum in Switzerland.
The festival will be held at the NCPA in Mumbai from October 1-8, and at IIC in Delhi from October 7-14. It is being seen as a prelude to the IOC (International Olympic Committee) Session in Mumbai from October 15-17.
The poster launch started with a shoot. Afterwards, Bachchan invited his guests to an upstairs lounge for tea and snacks. They spoke about Bachchan바카라s school years at Nainital바카라s Sherwood, where the physical education teachers were hard taskmasters, and where he played everything from cricket to tennis and boxing. India바카라s improved performances in sports in recent years were also discussed.
Bachchan had attended the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics as a spectator. He had met Somaya and the Indian hockey team then.
바카라He is sharp of mind and remembered meeting the hockey team in Los Angeles, and he recollected cheering for PT Usha in the stadium when she came so close to winning the 400m hurdles bronze,바카라 Somaya told 바카라Outlook바카라 from Hangzhou.
Somaya was a Byculla boy during Bachchan바카라s 70s heyday. He watched many of his hits at Minerva and Apsara theatres.
바카라I was a fan of his,바카라 Somaya said. 바카라Movies like 바카라Deewar바카라, 바카라Don바카라, 바카라Silsila바카라, I saw most of them at Minerva and Apsara.바카라
About the meeting and the film festival, Somaya said, 바카라We were generally speaking about sports and how much it means for the country and how well we are doing. Mr Bachchan, and all of us associated with the festival, feel strongly about the importance of archival material, be it sports or anything else.바카라
In Hangzhou, Somaya has hit the ground working. He is meeting teams and coaches and checking if they need anything. The Asian Games officially begin on September 23, but a few competitions, including women바카라s cricket, start from September 19. Besides, not all squads are staying at the athletes바카라 village. Some have picked accommodation closer to their venues. That adds to the logistical complications of those managing contingents.
바카라I have met the volleyball and rowing teams, and later today I will meet the women바카라s cricket team,바카라 Somaya said.
Somaya rarely needs an introduction in India바카라s Olympic sport circle. But should one be needed, he might just say, 바카라Rishtey me to hum tumhare deputy chef de mission hote hai바카라.바카라