Why Sports?

Gone are the days when a bunch of folks used to play some game to kill time. Sports have become a serious business and are one of the parameters to measure the progress of a nation. Very often, the gold medal tally reflects the economic prosperity of the nation.

If ever there had to be an example of what sports can do to a nation, the just concluded Ashes series is one of the finest examples. You think of Brazil, you invariably think of football. Just as cricket and India are inseparable, so is Brazil and Soccer, US and Basketball.

Have a look at the celebration that ensued after the ashes victory and you understand the significance of sport. I yearn for such kind of a celebration. A celebration of which each one of the citizens feels a part of. It’s no more a question of yours and mine, but ours. Therein lies the magic of sport. Its one essential thread that binds the nation together.

I dream of the day when maybe 50/60 years down the line, my country lifts the football world cup. And I wish it just doesn’t remain a dream. I know it’s a tough ask but if we are really serious about it, the foundation has to be laid now.

For any sport to be successful, it has to have an appeal and its stars. Stars who give out their all and compel the spectators to visit the stadiums and cheer them on. Like Tendulkar for Indian cricket, Flintoff for English cricket, sania for Indian tennis, agassi for US tennis and many more...

What these icons have managed to do is kindle the dream process in the budding champs. Baichung Bhutia was once asked how does he think he will be remembered. He answered that maybe there will be others after him, who will become mega stars and earn fortunes but he will always be remembered as the one who could make Indians dream of a football career. And that will remain his legacy

What our country needs is more of such stars to kickstart a revolution. In tennis, it has already begun, thanks to Sania. And whether she makes it big or not may not be as important as what she has already done to the mindset of the tennis enthusiasts. She is one of the main reasons behind what seems to be the first ever commercially viable tennis tournament – Sunfeast Open 2005.

I very much want to be a part of such events. Just got to be a bit more patient. I know my time is coming. :)

And if we can manage to create promote such events in other disciplines too. I am certain that we will be able to unearth champs in other sports besides cricket and tennis. Keep watching this space!

PS: For some reason, i am not able to upload pics of the ashes victory celebration.

Moden Pan Vaknaar Nahi

Translated in English means….Will Break But Won’t Bend. We had this marathi lesson in 8th or 9th std. Not sure. But it has got permanently inked in my memory. It was about an honest cop who is faced with the pressure to accept bribe and not perform his duties. Even the higher authorities above him wanted him to succumb to the pressure since they too were an equal party in the crime.

The internal struggle of the cop portrayed in that lesson was one of the best I have come across. I still vividly remember the lines which made reference to the 'system'. It goes like…If the bigger wheels in a clock rotate, the smaller ones have to. The smaller ones can’t oppose and if they do, they have to get crushed. The bigger wheels referred to the higher authorities and the smaller ones to our honest cop.

After going through a lot of tribulation, the cop comes up with a firm resolve: Come what may, Moden Pan Vaknaar Nahi.

These words have kind of become a part of life for me since then. They add that zing whenever the chips seem to be down for me. It gets my adrenalin rushing.

Sehar, the hindi movie, starring arshad warsi, epitomizes this particular lesson perfectly. Do watch it. Realistically shot with an unhappy ending. Nevertheless a great watch. And no surprise, that it didn’t become a hit.

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Did the sania bubble finally burst against sharapova? Well, not so. Expected result. Nothing shocking. Yes, she has to improve a lot on her serves. But yeah…she is becoming fitter. With some rigorous practice and experience, she will surely be the player to watch. The challenge from here on is the real test. Hope she clears it. :)

And Agassi once again shows why he will be ranked amongst the greatest ever to embrace tennis. Have always revered agassi simply for the flamboyance he brings on to the court. I still remember those childhood days where we used to have friendly bets whether it will be Agassi or Sampras. Agassi will remain amongst my all-time favourites. Hope that he reaches the finals. There will be nothing like it. Agassi in his 20th appearance in the finals. The setting would be phenomenal. And then we will once again witness the magic of sport.

I have to post on the Asian Athletic championship too. Will do so in the next. Some glaring facts to ponder over.

Where is our sports minister?

Its been over three months now that our union sports minister Sunil Dutt expired. And shockingly, there is none at the helm as of yet. Goes to show where sports feature in our priority lists. Here is an article from TOI probing the sad state of affairs.

Well, don’t know how much of a difference Sunil Dutt could have actually made but he certainly had noble intentions. He was the one who had specially requested for the sports and Youth Affairs portfolio to Sonia Gandhi inspite of the fact that sports features at the bottom of the fund allocation priority list. He was passionate about football and had genuine interest in raising the standard of the game. I don’t know if the same can be said about the previous MPs who were in the hot seat.

And why aren’t our honorable MP’s coming forward to step into his shoes? But let there be an election for BCCI president post and you will see all our ministers fighting for the post in the interest of serving the nation. Let some athlete win an Olympic gold and we will see the ministers honoring them with cash incentives, again in the interest of the nation. Its appalling that after sania mirza’s exploits, even the Karnataka government honored her with a cash prize though they had no role to play whatsoever in her becoming what she is. I would appreciate if the same money could be put in creating mirzas from Karnataka state itself.

Come Olympics and the same ministers will then raise their voice for more funds for athletes All of a sudden, sports becomes an issue for them to gain some brownie points in the media circles.

Yes, the corporates need to support sports. But how many will come forward in such a scenario. Well, let me keep it for another post.

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Am glad at sania’s exploits in the us open. A good answer to all the critics who think money has gone into her head and she will end up doing only ads and movies. Our national badminton champ Anup Sridhar will be competing in the Danish Circuit. Am regularly asked if our Olympic silver medalist Major Rathore gets what he deserves. Will try to answer that in a separate post.

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At the personal front, have once again resolved to shed some kilos. :) Its more of a test against myself. Have started on a good note. Want to keep it going. Let me see for myself how determined a person I am. :)) Already i can hear the laughter from Laks, Pills and my room-mates.