Bharat Chetri proves his class, yet again

There are some players in Indiawho have time and again proved their worth, only to be discarded.

Like Len Aiyappa in the recent past.

Now, Bharat Chetri is on the same genre.

Perhaps in the recent times was no player in the national team so often dropped as he was subjected to – and equally thought of recalling at the slightest of crisis.

It is not known why he is always dropped before major tournaments, and then why he is recalled with matching frequency.

For a player who made his senior international debut way back nine years ago, only two developments should have been possible – in normal course. Fade into oblivion losing out to better talents. Or be the number one goalkeeper of India.

Bharat Chetri was allowed to be neither.

He was after a long break recalled for the 2007 Azlan Shah Cup by the then national chief coach Joaquim Carvalho. He was however not played till India lost the semis. He got his turn for the bronze match, that was against Korea. He played a marvelous game, none would have believed it is his first match in the tournament; he anchored India for the bronze.

But he was not in the 2007 Asia Cup, lost so many fortunes that went with it.

Came back for a while, before forgotten.

One can go on listing such instances.

He is now back in Malaysia where till recently he played for a Club.

India’s victory over Korea on Wednesday proved this old horse really a horse for the race.

Korea got ten penalty corners, more than that innumerable goal bearing shots at goal. There were Korean solos, combined moves, but this man was not simply moved.

He allowed the balls to cross over the backline in tense situation, and it was mark of a seasoned goalie.

This gentleman goalie never opens mouth, never says some wrong is committed on him and stuff like that. He only smiles at missiles like questions.

Perhaps that maturity and the smile, the both which has become his hallmark, that seems to keeps him going in Indian hockey, where you are remembered when someone wants to punish someone else.

Whether Bharat is now in the team for need of the country, or somebody’s urge to remind somebody that we had have better stuff.

Whatever, this man proved again he is still a force to reckon with.

Azlan Shah Cup is not the biggest of stages, Korea is not the greatest of rivals, so I feel, yet I cannot by sympathize with this smiling assassin.