Sporting India...

I underestimated the importance of sports in development of one's personality. In fact I used to avoid sports for reasons unknown to me. But almost two years back, I decided to play tennis and enrolled myself at a tennis academy. It exposed me to a host of experiences which shocked, suprised and amused me. on the first day I realized how pathetic my fitness quotient was. Gradually i began working on my fitness, following a regimen of two hours of tennis and fat free diet. I had once read swami vivekanand's exhortation to the youth about sports,'You would be closer to god by playing soccer than reading the gita.'I cant say whether I have come closer to god by playing tennis, but it has made be very humble. Any sport reveals your personality to yourself.i.e. are you competitive, do you go beyond your comfort zone, do you pick up a challenge to outflank an opponent who is better than you, etc. I realized that I was competitive but not hyper competitive like shahrukh khan or adman suhel seth (which, I believe is the need of the hour).

The whole experience of learning tennis has also made me experience the pathetic state of Indian sports and our lack of support in improving standards of sports. If India has to become a superpower than the young India should be fit. Physical exercise and sports should be encouraged across educational levels.Today,in school classes, a student topping in mathematics is made the star of the class but a student good in athletics or sports is labeled dunderhead. This has to change. Of course we need future Narayan Murthys and Abdul Kalams but we also need future Tendulkars, Mirzas and Kartikeyans. I believe that can be done by recognising, appreciating and supporting talent. By support I dont mean mere scholarships but institutionalize support which props up the sportsperson durings her sporting career and beyond. I have a very limited experience of sports but there are experts sitting idle who can guide the nation towards sporting glory. Chak de India!!