"It is
not the legends who play the game in this coastal hamlet, but the local
heroes, who are namesakes of renowned cricketers and wrestlers." THANGACHIMADAM: Cricket legends like Steve Waugh and Mathew Hayden
playing cricket with wrestling stars Big Show and The Rock might seem
like a wild fantasy. But for residents of Thangachimadam, a fishing
hamlet near the pilgrim town of Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, this is no figment of imagination. For, it is not the legends who play the game in this coastal hamlet, but the local heroes, who are namesakes of renowned cricketers and wrestlers.
The villagers, diehard cricket and wrestling fans, display their passion and zest for the sport by simply naming their sons after sports stars. The villagers name their children after film stars and even corporate firms. For instance, a youth in the village is called Kirloskar, named after one of the biggest manufacturers of diesel engines used in fishing boats.
But it is the sports stars who reign in Thangachimadam village. Bhaskaran's son is named after Steve Waugh because his brother-in-law is an ardent fan of the cricketer. Incidentally, Steve Waugh, an Class 8 student of a private school, is the captain of the cricket team. He is also the captain of the 'under 13' kabaddi team. "In a recent cricket match, I hit a sixer off the last ball when we needed just one run to win," he says proudly.
Says his older brother Castober (20), "When my sister's son was born a year ago, I suggested he be named after Irish wrestler Sheamus. My brother-in-law is very pleased with the name."
At school, teachers found it difficult initially to address their students as Steve Waugh or Kirloskar. "But, soon they got familiar with the names. Now, they don't hesitate to address my classmates Mathew Hayden and Rock," says Big Show, Steve Waugh's classmate. "I don't know whether it is because of my name, but I am not good at cricket like my friends Steve Waugh and Hayden," says Big Show, named after the popular American wrestler.
No one in the village knows the official names of George's three sons. An ardent cricket fan, the fisherman began to address them as Sachin, Sehwag and Yuvaraj and the names stuck. Their parents, friends and even teachers now call them by the names of the three cricketers. "The three are my favourite cricketers and everyone in the village and in the school knows my sons only by these names," says George. His regret is that his 12-year-old son Sachin has not shown any interest in cricket. "I hope Sehwag and Yuvaraj will not disappoint me," he says. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/In-Tamil-Nadu-hamlet-Waugh-plays-cricket-with-Big-Show/articleshow/22107371.cms
The villagers, diehard cricket and wrestling fans, display their passion and zest for the sport by simply naming their sons after sports stars. The villagers name their children after film stars and even corporate firms. For instance, a youth in the village is called Kirloskar, named after one of the biggest manufacturers of diesel engines used in fishing boats.
But it is the sports stars who reign in Thangachimadam village. Bhaskaran's son is named after Steve Waugh because his brother-in-law is an ardent fan of the cricketer. Incidentally, Steve Waugh, an Class 8 student of a private school, is the captain of the cricket team. He is also the captain of the 'under 13' kabaddi team. "In a recent cricket match, I hit a sixer off the last ball when we needed just one run to win," he says proudly.
Says his older brother Castober (20), "When my sister's son was born a year ago, I suggested he be named after Irish wrestler Sheamus. My brother-in-law is very pleased with the name."
At school, teachers found it difficult initially to address their students as Steve Waugh or Kirloskar. "But, soon they got familiar with the names. Now, they don't hesitate to address my classmates Mathew Hayden and Rock," says Big Show, Steve Waugh's classmate. "I don't know whether it is because of my name, but I am not good at cricket like my friends Steve Waugh and Hayden," says Big Show, named after the popular American wrestler.
No one in the village knows the official names of George's three sons. An ardent cricket fan, the fisherman began to address them as Sachin, Sehwag and Yuvaraj and the names stuck. Their parents, friends and even teachers now call them by the names of the three cricketers. "The three are my favourite cricketers and everyone in the village and in the school knows my sons only by these names," says George. His regret is that his 12-year-old son Sachin has not shown any interest in cricket. "I hope Sehwag and Yuvaraj will not disappoint me," he says. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/In-Tamil-Nadu-hamlet-Waugh-plays-cricket-with-Big-Show/articleshow/22107371.cms
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