Indo-Pak hockey a big draw

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">CHANDIGARH: It seems sports enthusiasts have only one equation; a match has to be watched.<br /><br />And despite a sweltering Wednesday saw a tremendous turnout at the Sector 42 hockey stadium, the India-Pakistan ''Dosti'' hockey match attracting fans from within a 250 kms radius. Surprising, considering it wasn’t cricket.But with stands spilling over with enthusiastic and screaming humans, one thing is for sure. Hockey ain''t going anywhere!<br /><br />The crowd was animated even before the whistle blew. Noisy cheering greeted one at every corner, shrill notes of Oye, well done! <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Hun pata lagaya</span>? (when the Indian team scored) and <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Oye hoye</span> (when they didn''t), emitting from over-zealous fans between the ages of three and eighty-five.<br /><br />There was an in-your-face exhilaration evident in the crowds, just like the game in progress. A group of boys beating a rhythmic tattoo on the wall with empty plastic bottles, got the others around them clapping. The four gals from Army Institute of Law kept changing positions, so as to catch a better glimpse of the players. Who says hockey is only for guys? Latitha, Priyanka, Divya and Arpinder indignantly questioned in the din.<br /><br />The children freaked out making a noise without being admonished, while their school teachers let their hair down and shared gossip in the sunshine.<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"><br />Actually, most of the adults seemed to be making a phenomenal amount of noise as well. A couple was busy deciding the course of their celebration depending on the outcome of the match. “Its dinner if India wins and a movie if they lose,� the guy seemed to be saying, putting his anxious girlfriend in a tizzy on how to get permission from home.<br /><br />Wonder what they decided on when the match ended in a draw?<br /><br />Indian colour was waved around fervently. The flag becoming a sunshade when it got too hot. The air was heavy with sweat, expectations, and a unique camaraderie that came alive every time India darted inside the Pakistani half. And, every one seemed to know what to do. �<span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Oye aiddan mar lo� “chetti karo� “dujji taraf</span>� was all part of the advice being screamed to the players.<br /><br />With a stadium full of people shouting themselves hoarse, it’s a miracle that the players managed to concentrate on the game. But each team managed a goal, the match ending in a draw. However, at the end of the seventy minutes, it didn''t seemed to matter. For just sharing in the joy and spirit of the game seemed enough.<br /><br />(With inputs from Kavita Oberoi)</div> </div>