From accidental player to India's scorer: Karthi's story

Playing in front of his family, Tamil Nadu forward helped his team thrash Malaysia on Sunday; hosts continue their winning run vs S Korea

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN

ON Thursday, S Karthi was overcome with nervousness. He was about to step onto the shiny blue astroturf at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium for the first time ever. Wearing India's sky blue, he had already sung the national anthem.

The nervousness was two-pronged playing in front of a big crowd at home for the first time was one. The bigger reason was his mother, Valarmathi, and father, Selvam, were about to watch him play in the flesh for the first time ever.

"I was a bit nervous," he tells this daily. "Playing in front of a big crowd like this in Tamil Nadu. Have played in front of big crowds elsewhere but first time at home. Once the match began, though, my teammates helped me adjust."

On Sunday, Karthi displayed zero signs of nervousness when he slammed a fierce drive to give the hosts the opener in what turned out to be a one-sided match against Malaysia.