The Uber turns Elite!!!

Hyundai unleashed the 1st Gen i20 in 2008 that left a rousing impact. Four years forward and Hyundai introduced the mid-life facelift in 2012, which did not fail to impress either. Hence, the 2nd Gen i20 really has some big shoes to fill in and yet this would be quite an understatement.

The recent unveiling of Hyundai Elite i20 in India is a clear indication from the car-maker that it's focus is to strengthen its foothold in the domestic market. Also to cease the new Volkswagen Polo or the Fiat Punto Evo from gaining a head-start. And obviously to take on Maruti's Swift head-on. Needless to say, face-lifts and new generations are the need of the hour.

The Fluidic design from Hyundai was an instant hit in India and this time around the new i-20 comes with a "Fluidic Sculpture 2.0" design philosophy that's more European-esque.  The company claims this shift in the design philosophy was to transform the car's image. The new styling certainly allows the Elite i20 to look bolder (to come across as 'bold' instead of 'youthful'). The hexagonal grille at the front is hard to miss. The sweptback head-lamps and the sleek fog-lamps on the bumper help bring the much-needed 'cheer' to the hatchback's front. The absence of daytime running LED (as in the outgoing model) is quite strange though. That said, it is really the rear where the Elite i20 scores brownie points, thanks to the 'Alfa-Romeo styled' tail-lights. And the blacked out C-pillar blends in equally well.  To be honest, it looks all the more ravishing and make heads turn.

Now, the cabin. Its nice and pleasant inside the Elite i20; the dual-tone beige and black interiors look good and so does the neatly laid out dashboard. The fit-and-finish is as good as ever. Being a Hyundai product, the presence of lots of features is a given. The 3-spoke steering wheel has a nice upmarket feel to it and comes with lots of controls mounted on it. The hatchback gets a front -centre armrest with storage, a steering-sensitive rear parking camera, and a 2-DIN audio system with 1GB storage among other features. A one-touch function is also present onboard to warn lane change intentions as an added safety measure. So, the Elite i20 looks truly 'un-compromised'.

Since the Elite i20's wheelbase is the longest in its segment, there is little doubt that the rear row gets quite a decent amount of legroom and headroom. The seats are firm and comfortable, with good under-thigh support. Then there are also the AC vents in the rear row. Simply put, you will be comfortably riding in the Elite i20's rear row. As far as the boot space is concerned, it has shrunk a bit, as compared to the outgoing model, but is still good enough to fit in baggage for a couple of days trip.

Coming to the driving dynamics, Hyundai has turned smart to improve the Elite i20's by adding a bit more zing to the petrol engine and refinement to the diesel. 

The 1.4-litre U2 diesel engine delivers 89bhp of power and an impressive peak torque worth 220Nm. Also, it doesn't make much noise, even at high speeds, and the cabin is really quiet. In terms of transmission, the 6-speed gearbox (only in Diesel variant) is quick and responsive and is perfect for highway driving. 

The 1.2-litre petrol engine has been tweaked to offer more low and mid-range power. It produces 82bhp and 115Nm of torque and comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Expect the petrol model to get an automatic transmission pretty soon. The fuel efficiency figures are impressive too; Hyundai claims that the petrol engine offers 18.5Km/l, while the diesel promises 22Km/l.

In terms of suspension, the one on the Elite i20 is softer than that on the outgoing model. With a ground clearance of 170mm, driving on poorly-built roads wouldn't be a challenge anymore. The steering is precise around corners and the car handles well at high-speeds. Overall, the new i20's ride and handling certainly feels more confident.

The crux of the matter is that the Elite i20, with it's improved driving dynamics, added features, more space and new styling, will easily fill in the big shoes of its predecessor. With a price tag of Rs. 4.89 lakh for the base petrol and Rs. 7.67 lakh for the top-end diesel, the Elite i20 looks a bit pricey , but that didn't deter many in the past and we doubt it will affect the new-generation model's prospects either.

- DC

Courtesy: Autocar, Team BHP, Wikipedia, Kun Trial :)

Yes, Yuvraj is to blame...

Yuvraj is to blame for giving an entire generation of Indians the winning feeling reserved for champions of the cricketing world

We shared the jokes, we mouthed the expletives, we published the memes. We vented our ire in all ways we could,some of us even breaching the boundaries of ethics in doing so. We went over the case and passed the verdict. We pronounced the offender guilty.

Yes, Yuvraj Singh is to blame. For hitting an English bowler out of the park six times in as many deliveries, and instilling a belief in the minds of India's cricket fanatics that one of us could destroy an English bowling attack on foreign soil.

Yuvraj is to blame for pulling of an unprecedented heist at the sanctum of world cricket that left the cricketing universe gaping in awe, and evoked a feeling of unbounded pride in the heart of each and every fan of Indian cricket, for we had beaten those who ruled us for centuries.

Yuvraj is to blame for arduously carrying a billion dreams to fruition and giving this country something its incumbent youth had never seen the country possess, the Cricket World Cup.

Yuvraj is to blame for mesmerizing cricket fans of this country with such clean hitting that each and every time a bowler was in his delivery stride, somewhere deep within we expected the bowl to sail into the stands. Every darned time.

And Yuvraj is now also to blame for exhibiting the mortal side of a man who we had long believed to be Superman. Yuvraj is to blame for persevering through cancer to perform for fans who manifest their love by hurling stones at his house. Yuvraj is to blame for opening our eyes to the bleak reality that he is a mere human.

Those who have truly embraced cricket will know that this display of irreverence was blasphemy of the highest degree. For every stone that was pelted, let a thousand apologies be uttered. Let us show the king where he truly lives in our hearts. Sorry Yuvi.

Courtesy - Bhaskar Bhowmik @ cricinfo
http://www.espncricinfo.com/thestands/content/story/735753.html

The Indian Wedding!!!

They say marriages are made in Heaven, so why not make it an exotic lifetime affair!!! That's what usually happens at weddings in this part of the world.

Indian weddings especially have a traditional flavor to it and are much filled with rituals and celebrations that continue for several days. Imagine the groom exchanging vows with his beloved, decked like a princess against a palatial backdrop and the elegantly decorated & well lit stage that offers a grand welcome to all the guests who come in to bless the newlyweds for them to embark on a new journey together in style. It’s an experience, which will be unparalleled, take my word for it.

This picture taken on the day of my sister's wedding brings cherished memories to all our hearts. It's where all my cousins came together once again sans their busy schedules with the guys wearing conventional dhotis & silk shirts and girls clad in silk saris - a trademark in south Indian weddings. The very sight of the colorful picturesque suffices the moment of joy. Towering brothers and pretty sisters!!! We feel lucky to have been growing up together.

This is all the more special since we hardly get to meet everyone these days, unlike our childhood days where we get together on every summer vacation.

The Indian Wedding that is just splendid and makes everyone stop and take a look!!! 

A cricketing prodigy!!!

When Sachin Tendulkar travelled to Pakistan to face one of the finest bowling attacks ever assembled in cricket, Michael Schumacher was yet to race an F1 car, Lance Armstrong had never been to the Tour de France, Diego Maradona was still the captain of a world champion Argentina team, and Pete Sampras had never won a Grand Slam.

When Tendulkar embarked on a glorious career taming Imran and company, Roger Federer was a name unheard of; Lionel Messi was in his nappies, Usain Bolt was an unknown kid in the Jamaican backwaters. The Berlin Wall was still intact; USSR was one big country.”

It seems while Time was having its toll on every individual on the face of this planet, it excused one man. Time stands frozen in front of Sachin Tendulkar. We have had champions, we have had legends, but we have never had another Sachin Tendulkar and we never will.

- IBN Live

Journey of a little boy to a legend:

The 1990s was a time of awakening for the Indian economy. It was a time of VCRs, Walkmans and Maruti-800s. It was an age when still cameras needed roll-films, the sensex was under 750 points and petrol was priced under Rs.10. It was also the start of an era of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Blessed with the keenest of cricket minds he has been the most complete batsmen and the most prolific run-maker of all time. 

The beginning of his career was marked by courage. Facing lethal deliveries on his test debut and battling it out with a blood soaked shirt against the most dreadful attack ever, he made a mark as a gritty young lad willing to take on the best in the world. The nation saw hope in the little genius. Records galore followed suit. The rest is history. For Sachin, failure was not an option. While he was at the crease there was always hope. India found a player who went after the impossible. Aged prayed for him, executives skipped office, and an entire generation of youths dreamt of becoming cricketers. 

He made seeming progress with his batting which won him accolades. Time and again, testing times gave critics a crevice for target but then he made all the talking through his super-heavy bat, synonymous with the burden of the nation he bore. He proved a nightmare to bowlers which gave opponent captains sleepless nights. Memories of the desert storm in Sharjah is still afresh where he single-handedly destroyed the Australian attack, his favourites - the most dominant team of his era. 'Aussies Destoyed' said a tabloid headline, 'Hail Sachin' said another. "We lost to Sachin," said Steve Waugh. With time, India has become a global giant, while the Little Master has become a legend.

It would be no exaggeration to say that Tendulkar's landmarks put him among the very top echelon of sports persons across diverse fields. He's probably got the most flawless technique, something beyond scientific measure. Something that has allowed him to to roam a territory of sport that  even those who are gifted enough to play alongside him cannot even fathom. Perhaps it is a testimony to greatness that can never be challenged by even the most ardent critic.

"To play for India" has always been his desire in life. Somehow, when he says it, you know it's not just a platitude but a heartfelt truth. Cricket has always celebrated Sir Jack Hobbs for scoring 199 first class hundreds. But of course there's difference. Scoring 100 hundreds in international cricket is a feat that has once and for all set Tendulkar apart from his predecessors, contemporaries and probably even generations of future greats to come. The only batsman against whom Sachin can truly be benchmarked is Sir Don Bradman. But then Bradman never played with the pressure of carrying the hopes of a billion-plus people on his shoulders, never had to deal with a situation where a loss was similar to a criminal conviction with the world's second-most populous country sitting in collective judgment. Bradman played a sport. Tendulkar is the presiding deity of a nationally-unifying religion called cricket. 

He has always had a rousing reception every time he has stepped out on the cricket field. And right through his career, he has had to deal with great pressure that only a few could sustain. The crowd usually gets so loud that it adds to nervous tension that makes things difficult to concentrate to even the greats. But again, he has had his own technique to counter just like he would counter the most deadliest deliveries. 

"Whenever I found the crowd too loud I decided to walk down the wicket and tap it for a while, giving myself an extra 15-20 seconds to adjust. I'd be hoping that in this extra time the crowd would mellow a little and settle down." Sachin has said. 

He will have to perform this ritual in two more Tests. And it's certain that the crowd will not settle down in 15-20 seconds. The applause and cheers will reverberate around the world non-stop. Eden Gardens in Kolkata and the Wankhede in Mumbai could as well turn electric and find itself in History books as these venues will host India's two Tests against West Indies in November, which will mark the end of Sachin Tendulkar's 24-year career. We may get to see the legend play for India one last time. He has made his peace with the fact that there is life after cricket. He has called it a day as arguably the greatest batsman and inarguably one of the finest gentlemen to ever grace a cricket field.  But millions of fans will be consumed by a feeling of hollowness as they try to come to terms with cricket without Tendulkar. 

- DC

Courtesy:

Sachin Tendulkar retirement - Cricketcountry/ IBN Live. Tendulkar's 200th Test set to be in Mumbai - Cricinfo. The Rise Of Sachin Tendulkar - TOI. Sachin Tendulkar will play his 200th and final Test match - Sun.co.uk. Sachin Tendulkar to declare at 200 - TOI. Tendulkar to retire after 200th Test - Cricinfo. 

The Comeback Man!!!

There are only a few who can hit the cricket ball as clean and hard as Yuvraj Singh does. When in rhythm he can tear apart any opponent with his effortless yet brutal hitting. A nightmare to the bowlers, a treat to the viewers, he made a mark in international cricket with his very first innings - a match winning knock of 84 against the mighty aussies. He hasn't looked back ever since. A multi-talented cricketer, he has always been more prolific in  limited-overs cricket, than in Tests for whatever reasons. His athleticism, aggression and his wily left-arm spin made him a dream one-day player as Indian cricket found a potential all-rounder.

His ODI career is full of highlights. Elegant sixes, flamboyant drives, breathtaking catches, acrobatic run-outs could all be associated to Yuvi. Be it his heroics in the 2002 Natwest final at Lord’s, his six 6s to Stuart Broad during the T20 World Cup in 2007 or his double Hat-trick in IPL 2009, Yuvi has given us several unforgettable moments throughout his career with the biggest impact being his contribution to India's World Cup triumph in 2011, where his all-round performances won him the "Man of the Tournament"- 362 runs, 15 wickets, and four Man-of-the-Match awards in all. 

He had certainly got to the peak of his career and then, quite suddenly, it turned into a downward spiral. Came the biggest challenge of his life, when he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer which required a ten week treatment in the USA. 

He won his personal match too, this time braving past the dreaded disease and making a full recovery. The ordeal had left him a changed man. He was fairly confident that he could resume his duties on the cricket field reasonably quickly. After a stint at the NCA, Yuvraj staged a heroic comeback to international cricket when he took on the Kiwis in a T20I in Chennai where he scored 34 off 26. It could have been the start of a more consistent dream but this time, inconsistency posed a massive challenge, especially with lackluster performances in the World T20 tournament  and then he had to put in his best efforts for a comeback into the national side. Again. 

Yuvi has stormed back into the national side after some solid showings against West Indies A, and the Challenger Trophy. Dropped for several months and confined to the sidelines, he spent the summer in France to take part in a rigorous fitness regime that lasted 6 weeks. Though there were doubts as to whether he was match ready, he was seen much leaner, fitter and younger. The training proved worthy as he made a grand come back to cricket. 

In his first competitive knock since the IPL, Yuvraj blazed 123 off 89 balls against West Indies A in a one-dayer, and followed it up with two more fifties in the next three innings. And then, with a couple of all-round displays - which has become a synonym to him, he led India Blue to the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy, thereby letting his presence known to the selectors who made the right call of getting him back to the Indian squad for the upcoming series against the aussies. 

Lofty highs as well as despairing depths, he has seen it all. Not one to give up, he has never lost hope and continues to be a man who seeks to write new chapters with his courageous self. For now we may expect him to do what he does best on the cricketing field. 


- DC


Courtesy: Internet

Attitude is Altitude

If you think your life isn't desirable or you've failed, think again. Perhaps you might have everything in it to cherish but just dint realize yet. Life has its ups and downs and everybody experiences success and failure. Society doesn't reward defeat, and you won’t find many failures documented in history books. The exceptions are those failures that become steppingstones to later success. 

If fear of failure or inferiority is the hurdle that's stopping us from moving forward, it is time to look up to these personalities on how they coped up with the so called failures and succeeded in life.  If we fail and never try again, that is the real failure. Many of us avoid the prospect of failure. In fact, we’re so focused on not failing that we don’t aim for success, settling instead for a life of mediocrity. When we do make missteps, we gloss over them, selectively editing out the miscalculations. That is where change is required. Most often we think that success has a different route but fail to realize that failures are just the pivotal junctions along the same route that lead us to success. Those are just the necessary struggles called learning. “Failure and defeat are life’s greatest teachers”, it is said. An open mind to learn is the trick to succeed.

We all have areas in our lives that need improvement – careers, relationships, fitness or just overall mental and emotional state. Making changes to these may seem huge but it all starts with taking that first step and making goals. Like we all have heard, it is always the first step that can lead you to your destination. Of course we need a little bit of inspiration before we can take any steps. That's when real life achievers come to the core. Not just names as big as these, you could as well find a lot of similar personalities around you that could inspire you. Like mentioned earlier you haven’t probably realized yet or just aren't looking closely.

Optimism, hard work, self-belief and above all a “never-say-die” attitude is what makes highly successful persons what they are. Always remember Winners are not people who never fail, but people who never quit.

“Failure is only the opportunity to begin again. Only this time more wisely”

- DC

Leander Adrian Paes: Making Indians proud since 1991

For people who have not yet watched a certain Indian tennis player in action, it can be said without a shadow of a doubt that they have missed out on witnessing one of the greatest tennis ambassadors to have ever graced the court. 

It can be said with utmost certainty that they have missed out on seeing a person who in the true word is an epitome of patriotism. 

And above all, it can be said with paramount inevitability that they have missed out on witnessing the never-say-die attitude of a true fighter who is always willing to give his 100% even when his body does not allow him to. Behold Leander Paes. 

It's not often that the sporting fraternity gets to comprehend such a player. The world has indeed seen its share of tennis legends, but when a phenomenon called Leander Paes walks out, every Indian in the world can stand tall with their heads held up high to cheer a player who has sacrificed his entire life just for the sake of the game. 

He has indeed given his all and there isn't an iota of doubt in the minds of fans about Leander's willpower, dedication and commitment towards his country. 

He's had his share of ups and downs though. Let's face it; things don't come easy for a sportsperson. Just because someone wants something it does not mean that it will be handed to them on a platter. 

One needs to work hard for it and that's exactly what Leander has been doing. Ever since Leander stepped on to the tennis circuit, he's been a name to look out for. 

Paes substantiated his claim to be looked upon as a dominant force in the tennis community when he became the World No. 1 in junior rankings at the age of 18 by winning the Junior US Open and Wimbledon titles. 

This was followed by probably his greatest achievement ever when he clinched the bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, losing to eventual gold medallist Andre Agassi in the semis. Paes has hardly looked back since then and for the sake of tennis in India, let's hope he doesn't ever. 

When Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek won the US Open men's doubles title on Sunday, Paes became only the second tennis player in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam at the age of 40. 

Incidentally the first person to have achieved that feat was Martina Navratilova, who did that partnering Paes in 2003 at the Australian Open. 

Even though it was Navratilova's moment, the fact that Leander was involved in the proceedings was again a truly proud moment for every Indian on this planet. 

Leander's US Open triumph was his third at the Flushing Meadows. To many, it was just another feather in his cap. To his fans, it was his eighth doubles and fourteenth overall major title. 

But to Leander himself, it was an achievement like no other. Not because the win would set him amongst tennis's all-time greats and the finest that India has ever produced, but it was simply the fact that he had emulated Navratilova from whom he draws inspiration. 

He had proved to the world that "age" is indeed just an impediment that needs to be tackled in the mind. And most importantly, he had proved to his critics that his policy of portraying undying allegiance towards tennis is what matters the most to him. 

It is Leander's ruthless desire to win that has helped him overcome things in life that many people shy away from. In 2003 when he was suspected to have a brain tumor, which later turned out to be Neurocysticercosis (parasitic disease of the nervous system), it was this same ruthless desire to win that helped him bounce back. 

And in 2012 when the whole AITA-Olympics controversy broke out, he never compromised with this principle of always keeping his country before his personal needs or betterment. 

Leander Paes is probably India's greatest tennis player till date. There have been arguments in the past and there will definitely be heated debates in the future. 

But what all Indians can agree in unison is that even though a day will come when he will walk off into the sunset to end his glorious career, his legacy will be something that will live on and be cherished by fans not just in India but across the globe.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tennis/us-open-2013/indian-challenge/Leander-Adrian-Paes-Making-Indians-proud-since-1991/articleshow/22437658.cms