For Sozhasingarayer Robinson, India’s basketball sensation, it was déjà vu the moment he stepped in to play his first match.
It’s been three long years since he walked down the Indian Gymkhana basketball court here in Matunga. That’s long enough to have forgotten the feeling of TeraFlex under your feet, the smell of the sultry coastal air, noise of a frenzied crowd chanting your name and much more.
For Sozhasingarayer Robinson, India’s basketball sensation, it was déjà vu the moment he stepped in to play his first match at the Ramu Memorial Basketball Tournament on Tuesday.
“To be honest, I was wondering if people would still remember me. Thought I would have to prove my worth again if I wanted some respect and regard. But I was overwhelmed when kids ran up to me for autographs. It was unbelievable. I felt like I was never away,” an emotional Robinson said on the sidelines of meet.
Robinson, infamous for being banned from representing India and Tamil Nadu for one-and-a-half years for his differences with the Basketball Federation of India, lived under the tag of a ‘rebel’.
“I quit the sport. I was really hurt. I didn’t want to play the game again. Soon, there was a feeling of unhappiness. I knew I was missing something. You know, when you have something valuable, you don’t know its worth,” he said.
A few bitter truths in Robinson’s life ratify his feelings. As a teenager, he lost both sisters.
“When they were alive, I always used to fight with them. Once they left, I began missing their presence. Today they are my guardian angels. They were the reasons I got back to my lost love - basketball. Once I returned, I knew how much I missed it. It’s been 10 months since I am playing and I am happy,” he said.
So how has he shaken off his rebel tag? “I have definitely changed as a person. I have learnt lot of things. I have grown a little wiser. I have learnt to be responsible and, if I may say, diplomatic,” Robinson quipped.
TODAY’S RESULTSMen: ONGC 65 (Desraj 13) bt Maharashtra 46 (Soji Cherian 13). HT: 42-2; Western Rly 91 (Vishesh Brighuwanshi 32, Yadwinder Singh 21, Arvind Rawat 12) bt IOB, TN 57 (R. Chandrashekhar 20, S. Arvind 12). HT: 51-15; Services 97 (Dilip Kumar 21, Jijin Joseph 19, Tinu Joseph 14, Jai Ram Jat 11, S. Subbaiah 10, Arockia Babu 10) bt Chennai Customs 84 (B. Saravana Rajan 20, V. Suresh Kumar 18, R. Ramakrishnan 16). HT: 51-35.; Women: Chattisgarh 71 (Bharti Netam 13, Kavita 12, Aakanksha Singh 10) bt Rest of India 34 (Kawaljeet Singh 19, Akanksha Singh 10). HT: 32-21.
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