Some writers are straight to the point. Some wax eloquent about the beautiful game of hockey. Senior hockey writer S. Thyagarajan of the Hindu began his article on the opening match of the Indo-Pak hockey revival thusly:
"There were moments to rejoice, reflect and cherish. Grey clouds lay like a carpet that one sees hanging in every shop in this historic city. Amidst joyous scenes and before a packed gathering, a link with the past was reconstructed. What more could one ask for than the Pakistanis cheering the Indian team as it entered the Lala Ayub Stadium at Peshawar. And what spectacle could be more heartening than witnessing Indian players showering flower petals on the crowd at various points in the Stadium, evoking spontaneous cheers and approbation."
This is a photograph of Indian skipper Dhanraj Pillai from the opening match of the India-Pakistan series. Spearheaded by the magical Shahbaaz Ahmed, Pakistan won the game 4-1. Complete details of all the 8 matches of this path-breaking series will be given in the next bulletin.
