New Delhi: 8th August, 2004. Ashwini Kumar, former vice president, International Olympic Committee, has left Delhi for Athens in the wee hours of Sunday, the 8th August. What commenced as a personal visit to London to witness the Post second World War’ s first Olympics has now become a legendary stuff of a journey.
Ashwini Kumar, who also led Indian hockey for 17 years as the knowledgeable IHF boss, has the unique distinction of witnessing all 14 Olympics since 1948, that is to say, all Olympics in the Independent India. A unique record that can stand all times to come.
“I was a superintendent of Police then in 1948 with the Punjab Police. Some of the boys I recruited were in the Indian hockey team. Two of my brothers were in London, one as a doctor another a professor in a college. All I needed therefore was just a ticket to go which I exactly did”.
Dwelling on the London Olympics he said that it was a simple affair. Not much police around and even there was no accreditation problem. “Just purchase a ticket and enter into the stadium. It was as simple as it is” he said.
Ashwini Kumar witnessed all India’s matches and some of the Pakistan matches too. My interest in Pakistan was to see how the `old’ Dara (Ali Iqditar Dara) was playing. “He was my senior and I played against him in the college team. Frankly speaking he was tired at London and often I teased him, “you old man, why don’t you allow youngsters to play”. Dara played the 1936 Berlin Olympics before representing Pakistan at London.
Then on Ashwini did not miss any single Olympics. As he was then a leading sports official (IHF President, AHF chief, and for long spells the Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association), he had his royal visit to the Olympics. All his Indian administrative posts were not there when he was opted into the elitist International Olympic Committee in 1974. He was the fourth IOC member from India after D. Tata, GD Sondhi and Bhalendra Singh.
Hockey being his first love, Ashwini did not miss any single Olympic hockey match since 1948, a grand record indeed. That included weary 10 matches at Mexico City in 1968. “To put eight teams in one pool is something very taxing”, he said introspectively.
“God was very kind to me. I underwent four by pass surgeries. As a police man, I sustained bullet injuries five times. Of late even I had to undergo a surgery for cancer like thing. Still, I could make this trip. This is my last Olympics and that is why I am taking my family to Athens”, he said on the eve of his 15th Olympic journey.
Scholar policeman Ashwini has been conferred with the IOC’s Olympic Order in 2002. IOC president Dr. Jacques Rogge, for whose IOC membership Ashwini canvassed in the mid 80s (Rogge visited his home in New Delhi in that period), presented the award during the 114th IOC session in Mexico City.
Ashwini, a close confident of former IOC president Juan Antanio Samaranch, was elected vice president of the IOC in 1983 during the Congress in New Delhi. Thus he became the first IOC Vice President from whole of Asia, Africa and Latin American continents. He defeated brother of former United States president to become Vice President. As the only Security Delegate of the IOC, Ashwini supervised security aspects of six Olympics. To recognize his role at Sydney, the Australian government awarded him as the ‘Policeman of the Millennium’ in 2000.
Despite his all international fame, Ashwini Kumar is known as Mr. Hockey in India. To prove us correct, he also named his first daughter as ‘Hockey’.
This is what he has to say about Indian prospects at the Olympics. “If India has to win a medal, it should first deserve. Winning in Olympics means you are the best. Now you tell me, are we the best? Our defence is weak. We are not masters of trap and pass. At times we play fabulous hockey and that is only saving grace. My simple prediction is it will be suffice for India if they finish not lower than Sydney ranks”.
There is a good news for Pakistanis. Ashwini says the Pakistan forward line is impressive.”I like both the inside-forwards. I think they will be in the semis”.