President honored Twenty20 Team

The victorious Indian Twenty20 cricket team that won the T20 World Cup more than a month ago, was awarded a rare honor of being felicitated by the President and the Prime Minister. Although the Indian hockey team that won the Asia cup, were felicitated along with the cricket team, it was Dhoni's team that stole the show. Unfortunate, but was a hard reality.

The ceremony lasted for half an hour. The president also hosted a high tea at the Banquet Hall for the two teams, who were dressed in formal navy blue blazers. Virender Sewhag could attend the function because of the sudden demise of his father.

Ironically, PM Manmohan Singh and UPA President Sonia Gandhi gave the hockey players a slip and met only the cricketers. The PM personally congratulated each member of the team and presented them with mementos for their remarkable achievement. He later realized his mistake and invited the hockey team next day.

At the President house, it was heartening to see Dhoni greeting his hockey counterpart Prabodh Tirkey. the duo together posed for photographs. Dhoni also presented a bat to President Pratibha Patil. It was signed by all the players of the World Champion team. Hockey captain Prabodh Tirkey presented Patil a replica of the Asia Cup.

The president also appreciated the football team’s feat of winning the Nehru Cup. Baichung Bhutia’s men had to miss the ceremony because of their World Cup qualifier against Lebanon in Goa. Patil also made a special mention of chess ace Viswanathan Anand’s World Championship triumph. She had already felicitated Anand on his return to India.