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A Marksman Extraordinary
collided with his car, Karoly had already stopped his own and yet the impact of the collision was so great that it reduced both cars to rubble. Karoly was seriously injured in the accident.
The news of the accident spread in his country like wild fire and it created a tremendous commotion everywhere. Keroly was hospitalised and his right hand, which was seriously injured, had to be amputated.
What a tragedy ! The hand that would have brought a gold medal to Karoly and glory to Hungary had to be amputated by the doctors. The entire country was drowned in grief. A single accident had shattered not only the ambition of one man, but also the dream of Hungarians as a whole. It was natural that the members of his family, relatives, friends and 'well wishers, all, were deeply grieved and all of them almost gave up the hopes they had nursed for years. The only person who had not suffered a stroke of depression, the one who did not despair and the one who had not given up hopes despite the tragic accident was none other than Karoly Takacs himself. His inner mind was constantly telling him that life does not make or mar the victor; it is the other way round, that it is the victor who makes or mars the life. A spirited player never surrenders to circumstances. Karoly was absolutely certain that circumstances do not mould and make the player; it is the player who moulds and makes circumstances.
After months of treatment, Karoly was discharged from hospital. On return home, he started spending his time alone, in isolation from others. He would not go out. He would not meet anyone.
Most people thought that Karoly could not reconcile himself to the situation, and that he could not get over the impact of the tragic incident.
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