Sports Etcetera!!!

Undoubtedly the Indian sporting week that has passed by was turn moiled by the Indian cricketers' defiance to sign the agreement with World Anti Doping Agency (WADA). Consistent with the contemporary media gimmicks, the occasion was pepped with countless talk shows and panel discussions. It’s on one of such discussions in a leading national news channel that I happened to stumble upon the smiling face of Saina Nehwal, the badminton sensation.

Being someone avidly following the Indian sporting arena, I was awe struck by her presence. Down with Chicken Pox merely 10 days ago, there she was, all smiling and robust with enthusiasm. In the days when her sickness was confirmed, it was all dejection that enveloped the badminton circle of the country. But one could still remember the confident press release of the player that she could be ready by the time of World Championship. Not even her I’ll-die-for-you fans would have taken those words for nothing more than a wish that only the Gods could grant. And it seemed so that the Gods have granted her wish. Even the Gods would have been impressed by the girl’s hard work, dedication and humility. It was with such humility and uncomplication that she floored her opponents in the same panel discussion. The cricketers represented by former all rounder Nikhil Chopra was taken for cleaners by her words of wisdom and one can’t stop wondering when our celebrated cricketers will start thinking and talking like this teenager. Perhaps they will never; because they play for money and Saina for INDIA.

For anyone who has watched the program, there would be no doubts as to how simple and risk free are the WADA requirements and also how stupid our cricketers’ claims are. With our cricketers’ outcry, it seemed so that an athlete needs to communicate his detailed itinerary to the WADA. And all issues raised by the cricketers made us to believe so; at least for a few minutes or hours. Even if you had believed so even after it’s stupidity being demasked through various media, this girl would surely have enlighten you. Saina Nehwal so effectively communicated how simple the WADA requirements are and how baseless the cricketers’ claims are. Her explanation that an athlete needs to tested only when he/she is playing a tournament or when is training professionally made Nikhil Chopra shift to back foot. But he made it a point to emphasis that the country’s cricketers are on a 12 month continuous tournament calender which essentially leave them with very little private time and the WADA’s intrusion into this time was beyond any ethical practice. Saina’s reaction to the statement virtually threw Nikhil out of the race; yet, it was never an outrageous display of aggression or higher decibels. Her mere statement of the fact that all other professional athletes in the country have a 12 month continuous tournament calender and she too was subjected to the same was said with compassion that the moderator just had to announce the verdict. He went on to add that not many in the country would agree to grant a special status to Dhoni & Co. when real champions who play their heart out just for the national flag are backing the WADA agreement.

Hats off to you Saina, not just for being a real Champion, but also for being such a wonderful human being.