The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Reliving his experience at the Moscow Olympics

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Reliving his experience at the Moscow Olympics

Avinash Nair

Gurumurthy Dilip talks about his memories

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

achievement: Gurumurthy Dilip at a training session in Bangalore.

Bangalore: Gurumurthy Dilip relives every moment of his experience at the Moscow Olympics in 1980.

The 52-year-old Vijaya Bank Sports Officer is the only basketball player from the State to have represented India at the Olympics.

“At the inter-zonals in Kolkata, the ‘giant’ Sunil Kumar Panda (7’4”) of Bihar was restricted to 16-odd points with my tight marking. That effort probably won me a place in the team,” recalls Gurumurthy, who tormented many ace shooters during his peak.

Knee injury

Hampered by a serious knee injury, Gurumurthy had his international career cut short, but even to this day spends nearly an hour each morning at the courts working on drills.

The Paramjit Singh-led Indian cagers were outclassed and outrun in almost every outing, including by Senegal.

Tough

“The Russians in the opener were tough. Ajmer Singh our main player was ‘boxed’ out by two and three players and we hardly got a chance to manoeuvre our way towards the ring. It was against a second ‘five’ Australia that we began well and led by nearly 10 points with Amarnath having an excellent game. But in the second session with the main players coming on we were outpaced and mostly did the catching game,” he recollects vividly.

“Against Senegal, Radhyesham looked set to shoot after breaking free, but out of nowhere a Senegal player tapped the ball, which rebounded off the board and into the gallery. They were so fast and tough,” he added.

Favourite

“We had our own cook but moved around for breakfast to meet other stars. Teofilo Stevenson, the Cuban boxing legend was a favourite and interacted well,” remembers Gurumurthy.

“We have a long way to go…a lot to do to reach anywhere near an Olympic stage,” feels Gurumurthy, who however, has hope in the shooters and boxers.

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