Times of India rubbishes India's efforts on international stage

The Times Of India, who claim to be India’s leading newspaper seem to have some truly gifted writers.

From asking the Indian Hockey captain Rajpal Singh how much money he wanted after winning the Asian Champion’s Trophy to calling the Indian U-23 National Football Team an untalented and dumb bunch, the content they write is just priceless.

The first time it caught my attention was when Times News Network’s K.Kumaraswamy wrote a review of the 2nd leg of the India vs Qatar Olympic Qualifier.

With the youngsters playing probably the game of their lives, all that the vastly talented scribe managed to write was:

In sport, either you must be talented, or must be smart to capitalise on the luck that comes your way. Desmond Bulpin’s boys showed a distinct lack of both as they were knocked out of the pre-Olympic qualifying after managing a 1-1 draw.

Oh, what motivation the boys must have felt after reading this. Exactly the ‘pick-me-up’ the young lads needed. Played their heart out, creating tremendous scoring opportunites, all rubbished by just two lines written by a vastly ill-informed scribe. The inclusion of Manandeep in the second half resulted in the opening up of the Qatari defence time and again, but what was ultimately published was

The final scoreline might have looked respectable and the Indians truly deserve to be applauded for not conceding more.

A line that he could (and probably should) have written was “Laxmikant was tremendous in front of goal,” which would have given the young Dempo custodian some well deserved praise. It seems that this particular writer is an expert at breaking the spirit of the country’s best.

The second time it caught my attention was today morning, when I read Indian Hockey Captain Rajpal Singh’s interview with Times News Network’s Gaurav Kanthwal.

Adding to the humiliation faced by the Skipper when the team received a measly sum of just Rs. 25,000 after beating arch rivals Pakistan to claim the Asian Champions Trophy, he went on to ask him,

How much money did you want?

Now I’m not a hockey player. But asking a national team player, never mind the captain, about how much money they wanted seems like an insult in itself. Being a footballer, representing the national team, for me, would be a matter of pride and honour and not money.

The Times Of India is read by the whole nation, and what they write can influence people. They can spark an immediate interest in a team, a sport or even an individual. So, before writing hogwash, they should think of the responsibility that goes with it.

My intent was in no way to damage the image of TOI, I just want that they should think and review what they write with care. Extreme care.

Edited by Staff Editor