Tag Archives: Sports

Paris Olympics & India’s Medal Hopes

Posted on by
2

The original Olympic motto of Faster-Higher-Stronger has a new word added to it by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)- Together. The addition in the motto acknowledges the unifying soft power of Sports and the critical need for solidarity in a troubled world. There are 206 countries in the IOC, and each will be represented by at least one athlete at the Paris Olympics. Remember that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics reached out to a global broadcast audience (TV+ Streaming) of more than 3 billion people. Only the football WC at Qatar 2022 caught more eyeballs- the finals by 1.5 billion people and the FIFA tournament by 5 billion-plus.

Let’s take a ‘dekko’ at India’s medal prospects at the Paris Summer Olympic Games. Our highest medal tally of 7 was achieved at the last Games. Now, with a 113-strong contingent led by flagbearers two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu and 42-year-old veteran TT player Sharath Kumar, can we hope for some memorable performances? Smaller nations like Australia and South Korea have consistently achieved much more medal-winning glory.

First, the Indian men’s hockey team has won 8 gold medals, starting with the Dhyan Chand glory days in Amsterdam in 1928. Sadly, the last gold medal was won at the Moscow Olympics in 1980, followed by the agonizing, interminable wait till the bronze place finish at Tokyo 2020. We owe a lot to Naveen Babu and the Odisha government for funding, sponsoring, and supporting the men’s and women’s national hockey teams. A balanced team with experienced stalwarts gives us hope. Captain and defender Harmanpreet Singh is a penalty corner specialist and one of the best drag flickers in the world. PR Sreejesh is lauded as the best goalkeeper of his generation. The key is to win the earlier matches and grow in the rhythm and confidence for the knock-out stages. Belgium and Australia are strong contenders in our group. With redoubtable sides like England, Netherlands, and Germany to take on later. Interestingly, PR Sreejesh recently shared that Rahul Dravid had once told him, “The importance of being patient and waiting for your moment.” Talking about the cricket T20 WC win, our hockey star had this to say: “The biggest thing I learned is that I don’t celebrate before the last ball.” Will our hockey team dominate the astro turfs and climb up the top podium? Will we hear our national anthem being played for victory in a sport long considered our national game?

The golden boy is indisputably Neeraj Chopra. At the last Games, he became the first Indian track and field athlete to win a gold medal at the Olympics. If he does an encore in Paris, he surely deserves the Bharat Ratna. He is also the World, Asian, and Commonwealth champion. His best javelin throw in 2024 was 88.36 meters at the Doha Diamond League competition, where he came second. Competition comes in the shape of German Max Dehring, who has cleared 90 meters. Also, happily in the form of Kishore Kumar Jena, the silver medalist at the Hangzhou Asian Games with a throw of 87.5 meters. Fortunately, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Athletic Federation of India have pulled out all the stops for our entire contingent of athletes. No expenses have been spared to provide the best training, equipment, and facilities. Neeraj Chopra’s last many months have been spent in training and conditioning camps in South Africa, Turkey, and Switzerland.

India’s final medal haul largely depends on the performance of the shooters. An unprecedented 31 have qualified across rifle, pistol, and shotgun events—flashback to Athens 2004 when Capt. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won the country’s first individual silver medal in the men’s double trap event. Then, we went to that momentous moment in our sporting history when Abhinav Bindra clinched the gold medal in Beijing in 2008 at the ten-meter air rifle event. Sift Kaur Samra, who holds the current world record in the Women’s 50-meter rifle three-position event, is our best bet to bite the gold medal. The National Rifle Association of India has spent more than Rs 50 crores for 45 shooter camps and drills at locations in France, Italy, and Europe. 13 foreign coaches, sports psychologists, and data analysts under a High-Performance Director have worked around the clock with the shooters. The rifles, pistols, and ammunition have been tested in Austria and Germany. It’s time to bury the ghosts of Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 when the much-hyped squad returned empty-handed.

Nikhat Zareen—a two-time world flyweight champion—and Lovlina Borgohain- welterweight bronze medalist at Tokyo 2020—lead the Indian punch in the boxing rings. Although this is her first Olympics, Nikhat’s strong technique and regimen are her forte; Lovlina has transitioned smoothly from the 75 kg to the 69 kg category. These champs and three other teammates have been training at Saarbrucken in Germany for the past month. Let’s hope they pack a real punch.

In the weightlifting discipline, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, who won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, lifted our national expectations. However, she spent half a year recovering from a hip injury at the Hangzhou Asian Games. She is currently training at La Ferte Milon commune in France, accompanied by two coaches and a physio, with all expenses paid under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). IOA Chief Nutritionist Aradhana Sharma and her team have spent over three years with our medal hopefuls, especially with the boxers, weight lifters, and wrestlers, to keep them in prime health and fitness.

In wrestling, there is considerable excitement about the prospects of Aman Sehrawat, who was the gold medalist at the Asian Wrestling Championships and bronze medalist (57 kgs) at the 2022 Asian Games. Vinesh Phogat, the first Indian women’s wrestler to win gold at the Commonwealth & Asian Games, can make the country proud at the Paris Olympics. They are both supported by a non-profit Foundation called OGQ (Olympic Gold Quest) founded by billiard maestro Geet Sethi and Prakash Padukone and managed by former Indian men’s hockey captain Viren Rasquinha. It is heartening to see the growing ecosystem to boost & support our sportspeople beyond cricket.

The Indian compound women’s archery team recently achieved a hat trick by securing their third successive World Championship gold. Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Aditi Swami, and Parneet Kaur are favored to hit the bull’s eye at the Paris Olympics in the team events. Jyothi, the world no. 3 archer who has shown fantastic focus and presence of mind, is expected to win multiple medals.

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu can add further laurels to her already stellar badminton career. Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, world badminton doubles No.1, have a proven record in major tournaments to serve India a possible gold medal. Satwik’s recovery from a shoulder injury is the point of concern.

So, finally, we go to the actual track and field. Milkha Singh finished fourth in the 400-meter Rome Olympics (1960), missing the bronze by a whisker. Even with the Indian Army providing support, it must have been a case of ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’- a herculean, individual effort. The same story continued in the 1984 Games, with PT Usha clocking 55.42 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles and missing the bronze medal by 1/100th of a second. At the World Athletic Championship at Budapest 2023 (4X 400 men’s relay), Muhammad Yahya, Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal, and Rajesh Ramesh placed 5th at 2,59,05. The US team won with a time of 2,57,31. Is India going to celebrate its first-ever track medal at the Paris Games?!

At the 2028 LA Olympics, our national obsession, cricket, will become an Olympic sport. Great for the game and its popularity. But it’s high time we appreciate and revel in India’s achievements at the highest levels in other sports, athletics, and other disciplines. Success at the Olympics is the epitome of international recognition in many ways. Wouldn’t it be divine if Arjuna and Karna were to inspire our archers to hit the wooden bird’ eye repeatedly without shifting focus from the target?! Again, in the Mahabharata, the javelin was used as a weapon for close-range duels and to hurl in the distance to keep enemies at bay. What are the odds that Neeraj Chopra and Kishore Kumar Jena occupy the top 2 spots on the victory podium?! Yes, indeed!! If the Indian Olympic contingent can return from Paris 2024 with a haul of 12+ medals (including at least two golds), it will be a triumph of Epic proportions.

Head Coach Gautam Gambhir will have to climb THE WALL

Posted on by
2

Gautam Gambhir, the new Head Coach, has big shoes to fill. In a sense, he will have to climb up The Wall to make his impact felt. He does have an impressive resume. He played for India in all game formats from 2003 to 2016. World Cup trophy winner with the T-20 squad in 2007 & ODI team in 2011. A big match player- remember his match-winning 75 from 54 balls in the 2007 finals against Pakistan & the resilient 97 out of 122 balls in the WC 2011 finals against Sri Lanka. He captained KKR to the IPL titles in 2012 and 2014 and mentored them in 2024. A strong, outspoken personality, he will be taking over a champion Indian cricket team, which has been two years in the making and with complete focus on the ICC Champions Trophy and World Test championship in 2025.

GG is an ardent admirer of Anil Kumble, India’s spinning legend. He regards him as the best captain he has played under, with his honesty and impeccable dedication to the cause of Indian cricket and The Men in Blue. The same Anil Kumble was sacked as coach in 2017 because of differences with Captain Kohli, who replaced him with his man, the flamboyant Ravi Shastri. Interestingly, Head Coach Gambhir will have a big say in the appointment of the Indian captain, too.

Let’s talk about Rahul Dravid- The Wall.  What makes him such an Icon across the cricketing world? He is one of the most incredible batters of all time (Tests & ODI), and he also holds the record for the most catches in Test cricket history- 210 in 164 matches. When he went out to bat, one could see the Indian tricolour fluttering behind him. Navjot Sidhu famously said,’ Rahul is a person who will walk on broken glass if his team wants him to.’ Brain Lara has declared that ‘if I have to put anyone to bat for my life, it will be Kallis or Dravid.’ In today’s times when aggression is all about pumping fists or cussing opponents listen in to Mathew Hayden, ‘all these things going around is not aggression. If you really want to see aggression look into Dravid’s eyes.’ ++ the Gentleman Cricketer. Ganguly has hailed him as ‘a champion at everything. I am very impressed with the way he approaches life.’ As Brett Lee has wryly observed,’ If you can’t get along with Rahul Dravid, you are struggling in life.’

His contribution to Indian cricket has been immense. Head of cricket with National Cricket Academy (NCA), Coach of India U-19 and India A teams. He has groomed and mentored many of India’s current cricket stars. Tendulkar has called him ‘the perfect role model for youngsters.’ So the spontaneous chorus from Ganguly, Sehwag, Tendulkar, Irfan Pathan, and Laxman…of ‘ Win the WC for Dravid’ is not surprising at all.

The serene drive of Dravid plus the calm, grounded passion of Rohit Sharma made for a great partnership since Feb 2022, when the latter was made captain across all formats. Their deep rapport is shown by the fact that the Skipper persuaded the Coach to stay on after the 19th Nov 2023 debacle- a call acknowledged with gratitude by Dravid after the recent T20 WC Redemption win. The Hitman has been a remarkable leader. Think of the position after 15 overs. South Africa batting with six wickets in hand and 30 runs to get in 30 balls, and India had a 3.35% chance of winning. Bumrah, Hardik and Arshdeep all rising to the occasion and not panicking under intense pressure. The Indian fielders totally living in the zone. Bumrah revealed that the Indian Skipper gave his players a lot of freedom. ‘Rohit Sharma has been absolutely phenomenal. Even in the previous World Cup, you know he has been proactive; he gives a lot of freedom to his players, and he lets them express themselves.’ A selfless, fearless captain for whom personal milestones and records don’t matter. Everything for Team India and the Nation. Nasser Hussain sees his leadership as ‘Iron Fist in a Velvet Glove.’ Everyone knows who is in charge, but he is a Big Brother, too, especially for the younger players. Rohit Bhai!  Rohit Sharma imitated the Messi Walk as he went up to receive the trophy, which rang so true. Two champion sportsmen so desperate to win the big one for their countries and their teams. (inspired by the video Ric Flair of WWE with the same music in the background).

His cricketing sense also comes through, with the well-thought-out selection of the team (with Head Coach & Ajit Agarkar and the team of selectors) and an astute reading of the wicket, conditions, and the state of the game. Remember his comments about bowling a line where the batter has to hit against the winds in the Caribbean islands? Remember his captaincy when the Bazball- high-adrenaline English Test team came to India to conquer The Last Frontier and stumbled badly. The Hitman’s final mission is winning the World Test Championship to be played at Lords in June 2025.

Cricket is a Team Sport, and the recent T20 WC championships showcased Indian cricket at its best. From the camaraderie and defining roles in the dressing room to the indomitable team spirit and clinical execution on the cricket field. The head coach and support staff play integral roles. So, you have King Kohli, who had a disappointing run in the tournament, coming up with a classy, match-winning 76 when it mattered the most ;Axar Patel’s critical 47 of 31 balls with 4 sixes to keep India in the game. Arshdeep Singh ended up as India’s top wicket-taker with 17 wickets. The same Arshdeep was viciously trolled for dropping a catch against Pakistan at the Asia Cup just 2 years back. Bumrah, with 15 wickets, deservedly became the Player of the Tournament (the first to do so without scoring a single run)—a genius of his craft. An extraordinary defensive-attacking bowler, he was not only exceptional in cutting the flow of runs but also a relentless wicket-taking threat. Michael Vaughan has called him ‘the greatest white ball bowler ever.’ This T20 WC will also be remembered for Hardik Pandya’s stirring comeback after months of booing and trolling for replacing Rohit Sharma as MI captain. He had a forgettable IPL season where his team finished at the bottom. Sanjay Manjrekar heard him ‘say something to the effect of having risen above results and losing the fear of failure.’ Kudos to Hardik for showing such tenacity and resilience and to him and Arshdeep for vanquishing the troll armies by performing on the biggest stage. However, Pandya’s resurgence in form also speaks volumes of the warm bonding in the dressing room. Something for him to imbibe and take forward. Surya Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and Axar Patel have had their days and moments. Kapil Dev’s catch to dismiss Viv Richards in the 83 WC has become part of Indian cricket folklore. I hope Surya Yadav’s amazing, game-changing catch will also be celebrated by replays on sports channels and TV videos for months to come.

Gambhir is very forthright in his views. Very refreshing. He talks about how every Team India player in the dressing room is essential and how broadcasters and media influencers build up one or two cricketers into brands by overshowing them to the detriment of other performers and national team members. The majority of the Men in Blue end up in the shadows. The broadcaster justifies this for TRP, advertising revenues, and social media outlets to mobilise followers and monetise the podcasts. So, this celebrity culture has made some cricketers bigger than the game of cricket itself. Think about Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and King Kohli. Underplayed are champions like Yuvraj Singh, R Ashwin, Anil Kumble, Sehwag and even ‘The Miracle Down Under’ series under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy.

He is also bang on about cricket in India being all about batters. Heavy bats, smaller boundaries, and flat tracks present arduous, uphill tasks for the bowlers. GG wants the white ball change after 25 overs in ODI’s to be reversed as it undermines wrist spinners. It’s really heartening to watch a top Indian batter ask if we as fans know and appreciate that Zaheer Khan took 21 wickets in 9 matches to contribute to India’s triumph in WC 2011. I sincerely hope that Zaheer Khan becomes the new bowling coach. He has a sharp cricketing brain and is respected by the players. One of the memorable features of the T20 WC has been the intense bat-ball contest. So, will Boom Boom Bumrah ever get the massive cult following of Virat Kohli? I seriously doubt it. In our country, batters are the real heroes. All others are just the supporting cast.of actors. It doesn’t really resonate that Shami took 23 wickets in just 6 games to take us to the final of the 2023 ODI WC final. Our sports channels and pundits will spend one episode on such an achievement and then jump back onto the gravy bandwagon. Sad!  A Murali and Malinga are still revered in Sri Lanka; a Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar are still feted in Pakistan.

Moreover, despite his vote for the IPL as a resounding success story for Indian cricket, Gambhir is emphatic that it all boils down to the Indian cricket team dominating all formats of the game and winning the ICC silverware. Hence, even with IPL throwing up some talented players for the shortest format, selectors will look at domestic cricket performances like the Ranji Trophy for Test cricket and the Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali for white-ball tournaments. To win the Indian cap and jersey, aspiring players must go through the grind to the extent the cricket schedules and injury lay-offs allow. It won’t be easy for IPL-fixated cricketers looking for easy money, glamour, and a green channel route to the national side.

A big Thank You to The Wall & The Hitman for putting Indian cricket on the right track and lifting a WC trophy after a hiatus of 11 years. It remains to be seen whether Rohit Sharma remains the Test and ODI captain. I sincerely hope he does. He has fuel in the tank for another year of international cricket. An interesting change at the Coach level will be the change in approach. Rahul Dravid lived and breathed the spirit of The Gentleman’s Game. The hardnosed GG has his own take on playing hard within the laws and rules of the game. Hopefully, with Gambhir and his chosen support staff, exciting and winning times will be ahead. Indian cricket should be hailed as a superpower not only because of immense financial clout and a humongous fan following but also because our cricket team consistently wins major ICC trophies and bilateral series, especially on SENA tours (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia).

You can also read: Management Learnings from ‘The Hitman’- Rohit Sharma

Ronaldo Vs Messi

Posted on by
1
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Recently Cristiano Ronaldo (CR 7) commented that the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA Best Player awards were ‘losing their credibility.’ You guessed right! The recipient of both these honours was none other than Lionel Messi.

Let’s get it straight. The Ballon d’Or has been presented by the French Magazine, ‘France Football’ since 1956. 30 names of top performing footballers ‘in the last season’ are shortlisted by a jury of seasoned football correspondents. Then, senior, accredited football journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations select their top 5 players in order of ranking with 6 points being given to the top player. For Ballon d’Or 2023, 66 out of 92 participative journalists voted for Messi as their No 1 player. They represented major football powers like Germany, Italy, England, Spain, Belgium and Brazil and the world’s 2 most populous nations- India and China. Erling Haaland, the hero for Man City got 22 nominations as the best footballer in the world. Messi vs Haaland was 462 points to 357, a significant margin.

The FIFA Best Men’s Player 2023 trophy was a much closer affair with both Messi and Haaland tied at 48 points. An equal weightage of 25% is given to the deciding panels of Coaches, National team captains, Media and accredited fans. The National team captains’ votes swung it in Messi’s favour as per accepted practice and procedure.

The intense rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi over the last 16 years has taken the stock of European and World football through the roof. Not since the days of Pele and Maradona has the sport captured such global interest and fervour. To concisely wrap up the silverware won by these 2 Icons- Ballon d’ Ors, Messi 8- Ronaldo 5; Best FIFA Men’s Player, Messi 3- Ronaldo 2; European Golden Shoe for the top goal-scorer in all European Leagues in a season, Messi 6- Ronaldo 4; World Cup Golden Ball for the Best Player in the World Cup tournaments, Messi 2- Ronaldo 0. The Argentine maestro won the Golden Ball at the 2022 Qatar WC and earlier at the 2014 WC in Germany. Lionel Messi had carried an average Argentina squad to the finals which they lost in a 1-0 heart-break defeat to the hosts Germany.

As regards laurels at the highest levels, CR7 captained the Portugal side to a 1-0 win over France in the European Championships of 2016. In 2021, Messi inspired his team-mates to success in the Copa America final after beating arch-rivals Brazil 1-0 at Maracana.  His first international title since the Olympic gold medal at Beijing 2008.

Ronaldo is a goal-scoring phenomenon-128 goals for his country in 205 matches since his debut in 2003. At elite club levels with Man U, Real Madrid and Juventus – a staggering 696 goals in 918 games. A little-known fact is that more than 150 of his League goals have come through headers. The average vertical jump of NBA basketball players is 30 inches. CR 7 highest recorded goal-header jump was 41 inches in a Real Madrid vs Man U match in the 2012-13 season. Only ‘HIS AIRNESS’ Michael Jordan surpasses him with jumps of 48 inches.

A rare specimen of physical fitness, his 6ft 2’ frame and tremendous pace terrorise the defence of opposing teams. Add an almost unstoppable free kick to the arsenal. A unique feature of this champion player is the exhibition of the double scissors and drop moves which allow him to quickly change directions. In 2018, the Turin medical staff did medical tests on the super athlete and found that his condition at 34 was the same as a 20-year-old – with an incredible 50% muscle and 7% body fat. Ronaldo played for 4 seasons with the Italian club Juventus.

His handsome physique, sensational exploits on and off the field and his fitness regimen make him the most followed sportsperson on Earth. 618 million followers on Instagram and 100 million followers apiece on Facebook and X. To maintain peak fitness and endurance on the football field he engages in high-intensity interval training (HIIT), running, sprinting drills and cycling. The dedication is exemplified by 5 visits to the gym per week with workouts lasting 3-4 hours. HIIT is a complete physical regimen that combines aerobics, strength (resistance) exercises and targeted weight to increase muscle. However, it’s imperative to remove the misconception of CR 7’s speed. In the Sky Sport’s serial ‘Tested to the Limit’ in 2011 he was pitted against Angel Rodriguez, Spain’s fastest sprinter. Suffice it to say that the footballer would have run the 100 metres in 11.4 seconds.

French legend Zinedine Zidane, who managed Real Madrid, had this to say, “When you play with Ronaldo in your team you are already 1-0 up.” Over to Sir Alex Ferguson ( Man U), “We have had some great players at this club in my 20 years but he’s up with the best.” Portuguese great Eusebio’s observation hits home, “Ronaldo has great ball control and his technique is excellent. He believes that he can do anything with the ball and that confidence makes him very special indeed.”

Now to the controversies. The explosive TV interview with Piers Morgan led to his abrupt exit from Man U. He openly castigated Eric ten Hag, Manager, for benching him in some games and even blasted the owners of the hallowed club- the Glazer family. At the Qatar WC, Fernando Santos the Portugal Manager, substituted him in the match against South Korea, benched him in the match against Switzerland which Portugal won 6-1 and brought him on only in the 51st minute for the Q/F against Morocco. Possibly the lowest moment was when he claimed the 54th-minute goal against Uruguay in a group-stage match. The goal was credited to his team-mate Bruno Fernand and the decision was confirmed by Adidas Ball Technology. Unfortunately, CR7 continued to claim it over the next couple of days with support from his friend Piers Morgan.

The 5ft 7’ Lionel Messi with his ordinary looks and shy demeanour is a global football Icon only because of the magic he weaves on the football field. At the Qatar WC, he scored 7 goals and had 3 assists in 7 matches. But hold your breath! At age 36, he was one of only 3 Argentinian players to play every single moment of their WC winning campaign-690 minutes in total after 2 games went extra-time. Messi made 347 passes, 5 tackles and attempted 32 shots at goal.

The Argentine talisman has 106 goals in 178 caps for his country and 61 recorded assists. He spent almost his entire professional career with FC Barcelona (2004-21) where he won a record 34 trophies. His jaw-dropping club stats of 672 goals in 778 appearances with 269 Assists kicked in. A distraught Messi had to leave the Catalan club as they did not have enough of a wage budget left to offer him a new contract. Due entirely to financial profligacy and incompetent management. In his 2 seasons with PSG thereafter he scored 32 goals in 75 matches with a solid 35 Assists. Assists are what adds to Messi’s creative aura and mystique. Assist refers to that final, definitive pass to a team-mate or setting up a team-mate to take the goal shot. The stamp of the ultimate team player in the ultimate team sport. Listen to France and PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe, “I still miss not playing with him. For an attacker like me who likes to devour spaces, with him you can go with the certainty that you will receive the ball. It was a luxury that only he could give you. Playing with Messi was special.”

Messi, to millions of his fans across the world, transcends awards and stats. He is the modern maestro of The Beautiful Game. The biggest box-office draw even today. His artistry and ball skills have often been called ‘Insane’ and ‘Alien’.  His vision, balance, sudden turns and acceleration have stupefied both defenders and spectators. His saucy dribbles, sublime free kicks and the art of the chip finish have brought gasps, smiles and jaw-drops even from seasoned commentators and yesteryear greats.

He is adored by his national team-mates. They passionately worked hard and played hard to hold aloft the Holy Grail of football for their country, their team and especially for their captain. Angel de Maria who impressed and scored a goal in the final with a Messi assist has said, “I always dream of playing with him, having him by my side every day. Every time we go with the national team it seems very short.” Martinez, who won the Golden Glove award as goalkeeper of the tournament, is even more heartfelt, “I want to give him life. I want to die for him.”

Arsene Wenger, the famous Arsenal Manager, has observed, “Messi is a footballer from a PlayStation game. Things that are impossible to do he makes them possible.” Dutch great Frank Rijkaard says “Messi’s goals are a piece of art.” Former England star Wayne Rooney shouts out, “Messi is a joke, the best joke that my eyes have ever seen.” Radomir Antic, who managed several La Liga teams in Spain, stated “Messi  is the Mozart of football.” Let’s leave the final word to ex-Barca and now Man- City’s formidable Manager, Pep Guardiola-“I tried making Lionel Messi the best player in the world. He ended up making me the best manager in the world.” Argentina’s World Cup-winning manager, Luiz Scolari emotionally echoes similar sentiments.

Ronaldo playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and Messi turning out for Inter-Miami in US Major League Soccer are now at the twilight of their careers. The standards are much lower there than at the elite European clubs and leagues. At best, we can hope for ‘The Last Dance’ at the next European Championships and the Copa America.

CR 7 is undoubtedly in the pantheon of all-time football greats. What about MESSI? I wished that he had been honoured with the Super Ballon d’Or 2023. In recognition of being the best football player of his generation.  A title only and last conferred on the Real Madrid legend Alfred Di Stefano in 1989.

India Positive

Posted on by
5
Photo by Naveed Ahmed on Unsplash

Rainbow Nation was a phrase coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu to describe post-apartheid South Africa after the 1994 elections as the country peacefully and remarkably transitioned into a democracy.  This was to bolster the blending of diverse cultures and traditions to create a colorful and vibrant society. India with its huge geography and 140 crores + population defies any such paradigm. Just consider this. 122 languages adding up to 234 including dialects. Hindi is said to be spoken by a major segment of the populace. If you count dialects like Awadhi and Bhojpuri… and even the tapori slang of the Mumbaikars and the Hyderabadi lingo’s twist and flavor. 6 recognized religions (Christianity, Islam) & including 4 great faiths born in India- Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Add the small Parsee community of Zoroastrian tradition and Jews who sought refuge in India from persecution elsewhere. An ancient civilization that dates back to 6000-7500 years ( historian Tim Dyson).

Today’s India has truly started to churn as a melting pot. This cultural acceptance is being fostered by the job opportunities and economic interdependence of ordinary Indians which has led to mass relocations, which in turn is driving the wheels of commerce. Travel and tourism have led to millions of Indians discovering new sub-cultures and traditions and even taking a liking to their food and apparel habits. INDIA POSITIVE- a story not following the script of the divisive politicians and their acolyte media influencers.     

Food for Thought. Whether the sweet delicacy Rasgulla originated in Puri as an offering to Lord Jagannath or in the State of Bengal does not really matter; as also whether the original recipe of Sambhar can be traced to the royal kitchens of Maratha ruler Sambhaji Maharaj or is a Southern India concoction as considered today. Whether the famous Idli dish originated in Tamil Nadu or Karnataka or as Kedli by the cooks of the Indonesian Hindu kings more than 1000 years ago also does not matter. Today be it Punjabis, Gujaratis and Bengalis are drooling over some delicious variants of the Idli & Sambhar or the Dosa, Uthappam, or Appam. The Rasgulla is a must at large corporate events and weddings as a preferred dessert. The Lucknawi or Hyderabadi servings of the biryani or kebab are hot-sellers across the country. The Chola Bhatura, Aloo Paratha, and Rajma Chawal from up North are the stuff of thousands of Swiggy orders every day down South. The Bengali Doi Maach, Goan, and Kerala fish curries are culinary bestsellers. The very thought of farsan items like the Dhokla Khaman virtually transports us to Gujarat as does Daal-Baati-Churma to Rajasthan.  The delicious Momo –a staple in Leh-Ladakh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh – has spread its food-print all over.  A visit to Indore is not complete if you do not sample the fare at Chhapan Bhog (the 56 eateries’ food lane) or taste the night offerings at the Sarafa bazaar.

During a recent visit to Chennai, I was struck by the number of Tea Shop chains across the city- Chai Kings, Chai Waala, and Chai Galli. Although the aroma of filter coffee still fills the metropolis the young Chennai crowd is having their sips of the other beverage also. A young woman from Chattisgarh was attending the order desk and language was hardly a barrier in handling local customers and the delivery boys. At one such crowded joint, I noticed the ubiquitous Mumbai fast food Vada Pav selling like hot cakes.

During a 2-day hotel stay in Chennai, I learned that the Supervisor and the entire Housekeeping staff were from Tripura. Disciplined, polite, and making an honest living a long way away from home. At a reputed South Indian restaurant chain, the entire waiter service staff was from Bihar and spoke the Maithili dialect. One of them told me that he had been working for them for the last 5 years and that he and his buddies were decently looked after.  Other than the specialities the restaurant is known for they had expanded the Menu items to Naan, Paneer Kulcha, and Rajma Chawal. For me, Chennai is the Bellwether of cultural shift and change.

More than 13 million domestic tourists have visited the Kashmir valley this year with 3 months of the season still to go. The hotels and guest houses are full as are the cabs, buses, and Shikaras.  Some of my friends who have returned after a memorable vacation are not just full of the beautiful scenery but also about the warm hospitality from the locals. Travel is good education. It changes perspectives and dismisses prejudices. The North East is now firmly on the Indian traveler’s map and as I have been there multiple times it is an experience to cherish. The backwaters of Kerala, the coffee hills of Coorg, the beaches of Goa and Puducherry, the wildlife sanctuaries, and the tranquil spots of Himachal and Uttarakhand are already attracting hordes. The less visited spots of the tribal hills of Araku (Andhra Pradesh) or the lush forests, icy lakes, and monasteries of Sikkim will soon turn into attractive tourist destinations. Odisha will not remain “ India’s best-kept secret’ for long and with the Governments of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat putting their weight behind scaling up the tourism economy good times are ahead for the tent stay in the Rann of Kutch, the Jaisalmer desert festival and the Kanha Tiger Reserve Park. The younger generation is on the move and they are seeing and finding the Real India. Their passion for long trips by car or bike and for trekking and adventure sports is a good omen.

When one does the ‘Matha Tekna’ at the Golden Temple in Amritsar one is bowing down to show respect to the message of the Gurbani. Then there is the heart-warming concept of the Langar. In Sikhism, the Langar is the community kitchen of the Gurudwara which serves free meals to all irrespective of caste, creed, gender, or economic status. During the Covid lockdown, the Langar was God sent for lakhs of migrant workers and the jobless and the destitute. Putting a Chadar at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah is on the wish list of millions of Indians cutting across faiths.  The Sufi saint and philosopher Moinuddin Chisti is celebrated in the A R Rahman song,’ Khwaja Mere Khwaja’ in the 2008 film ‘ Jodha Akbar’.  The Sai Baba temple at Shirdi attracts millions of devotees every year and is second only to the multitudes that pay respects at the Lord Balaji temple at Tirupati. Just imagine the seismic effects when the Ayodhya temple of Shri Ram is opened to the public. Crores of faithful will line up for darshan. But it will also do wonders for the local and neighborhood economy and will serve the Greater Good. The Buddhist and Jain circuits in Bihar are testimony to India’s rich spiritual heritage. A look at the beautiful paintings at the Jain temple in Mount Abu or the pristine sculpture work at the Meenakshi temple in Madurai gives us a glimpse of who we are as a people. The St Thomas Church in Palayoor Kerala is believed to have been established by the Saint himself as far back as 52AD. The celebration of Merry Christmas in India is not confined to the lighted-up and decorated churches and the Midnight Mass. That Santa Claus caps and little glittering Christmas trees are sold at the city traffic lights a week before the Big Day speaks of the festive spirit which has taken over.

The Soft Power of Indian films, music, and dance has reverberated across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America, and Europe and is now making waves in North America. Dangal has been a huge blockbuster in China. The ‘Naatu Naatu’ dance sequence from RRR has captivated the world. But now in India Bollywood no longer rules the roost. Bahubali 1 & Bahubali 2 did huge business in the original Telugu and other South Indian languages but the Hindi dubbed versions broke all box-office records. Paving the way for the big success of Pushpa & RRR (Telugu) & KGF & Kantara (Kannada) in the Hindi heartlands.  Southern stars like Yash, Prabhas & Vijay Deverakonda are now well accepted and applauded by Hindi film audiences. So much so that many Bollywood biggies do not release their films when a mega South film is about to hit the cinema theatres. The Covid lockdown and the streaming channels also have played a big role in the breakdown of these regional film barriers. Audience tastes are now conditioned to the quality content and performances from Malayalam, Tamil, Bengali, and Marathi films.  Tumbbad is a stellar example of a classic Marathi movie. Vijay Sethupathi (Tamil) and Fahadh Faasil (Malayalam) have developed a fan following of their own beyond South India. I was not surprised when on a trip to Kochi I saw a corporate gathering at a hotel grooving to the beats of ‘Zingaat’ (Sairat, a Marathi blockbuster). Nor was I surprised when I saw baraatis at a traditional Maharashtrian wedding in Pune doing the rousing Bhangra. People are now opening up to other cultural influences.

 Rabindra Sangeet strikes a popular chord much beyond Bengal with its distinctive rendition whilst singing. But the music is a fusion of Bengali folk music, Carnatic music, Hindustani classical music, and the occasional Western note. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore created a pan India scores much before Independence. More than 100 years later we are still understanding the notes.

For the last 2 decades, many of India’s top cricketers have come from India’s smaller towns. Dhoni (Ranchi), Jadeja (Jamnagar), Shami (Saharpur-UP), and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (Meerut) to name a few. India’s most popular sport is no longer about the metros. And for the fervent fan of the Men in Blue, it does not matter if the winning runs are scored by Kohli, Gill, or Sanju Samson or if Mohd Siraj or Ashwin wins the match with the ball. That a man from Jharkhand is anointed as Thala (Leader) by the Chennai Super Kings fans and is embraced as one of their own is a potent, emotional story. Mr. Naveen Patnaik’s Odisha government sponsoring and supporting both the men’s and women’s hockey teams has resonated well with sports buffs across India.  These impactful undercurrents are not restricted to big sports. A Pro Kabbadi League (an indigenous sport with the scent of our desi soil) was launched in 2014 and attracts full stadiums and a good viewership on Star Sports. It has brought into prominence Indian stars like Maninder Singh from Dasuya, Punjab; Nitin Tomar from Malakpur in UP; Kashiling Adake from Sangli, Maharashtra. Plus professionals from countries like Iran & South Korea. Times are changing.

The gender barrier is falling on all fronts. Sticking to the sports narrative we have medal-winning woman wrestlers from conservative Haryana. Mary Kom (Boxer- Manipur) & Deepika Kumari (Archer from Jharkhand) who both have tribal backgrounds are now pan-India sporting ICONS. Mary Kom has had a successful Bollywood film made about her life and achievements. PV Sindhu & Saina Nehwal (Badminton) and Sania Mirza (Tennis) are household names and brand ambassadors for many products and services. Earlier this year the lucrative and glamorous Indian Premier League for women’s cricket was launched and the first season had good audiences and good TV ratings. Some of the Indian women cricketers are already celebrities on social media.  Top women corporate and business leaders are no longer outliers; many successful start-ups are being driven by women entrepreneurs. It’s still a work in progress but with the tipping point in the not-too-distant future.

In a sense, this can be seen as the quiet confluence of India’s mighty rivers, criss-crossing across our vast land. The Brahmaputra, the Ganga, the Indus, the Narmada, the Godavari, the Tapti, the Krishna, and the Cauvery and their tributaries flow into and merge into the other with the mythical and hidden Saraswati beneath the surface. A myriad of sub-cultures reach out to understand, appreciate, and live with each other. This is not wishful thinking, being naïve, or misplaced idealism. The story of India Positive-around the Idea of India-is not making any headlines but has started happening. It is gradually enriching and reinforcing the national ethos. Just let people be.

It Takes Guts to Be in this Racquet

Posted on by
Reply
Photo by Cristina Anne Costello on Unsplash

Rafa Nadal’s epic win at the Australian Open (AO) has sent seismic waves through the sporting world. The MARCA Sports News aptly captured the moment, “… when someone tells you something is impossible, think about Rafa.” Just 6 months earlier he was on crutches. He tested Covid positive in December 2021 and went into home quarantine. Beating the world no 2, Medvedev, 10 years younger and raring to go; 2 sets down and 3 match points down in the 3rd set;  winning a gruelling 5 setter in 5 hours and 24 mins. Boris Becker had once said,’ the fifth set is not about tennis. It is about the head and the heart.’

His good friend, arch-rival and tennis legend Roger Federer paid this classy tribute, “Never underestimate a great champion. Your incredible work ethic, dedication and fighting spirit are an inspiration to me and countless others around the world. I am proud to share this era with you and honoured to play a role in pushing you to achieve more as you have done for me for the past 18 years. A few months ago we were joking about being on crutches.”

The first few years for the young Nadal on the professional circuit were brutal. Stress fracture to the left ankle in 2004, foot injury in 2005, knee injuries in 2007, 2008, 2009. In his book ‘Rafa’ published in 2011, he admitted to contemplating ditching the sport and play golf instead. The trauma continued. A lengthy lay-off after Wimbledon in 2012; missing the US Open in 2014 with a wrist injury; sitting out Wimbledon 2016 because of a torn tendon in the left wrist. The Spaniard wryly started talking about an expiration date. But he returned to sweep the French Open from 2017-2020 and win the US Open 2017&2019. Plagued by injuries!! In June 2021, he pulled out of the Wimbledon and the Olympics- ‘to listen to his body and recuperate.’

The tennis experts have marvelled about his game. The spin and bounce that he creates especially through his forehand, often causing the ball to bounce more than expected. His ability to return almost anything with incredible speed. But the Nadal Effect is far bigger than the sport he represents. The Croatian Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric had this to say after the famous AO win, “How well you represent the value of sports, Mr Rafael Nadal.” An emotion shared across the world of sports. A B De villiers, Mr 360, remarked, “Rafa always shows us what sport is all about. Respect for the opponent and the game. Incredible fight till the end. Humility, irrespective of his achievements.”

The way Rafa has conducted himself on and off the court has been remarkable. When repeatedly pressed on his 21st Grand Slam win he shrugged it off with “I don’t care if I am the GOAT (Greatest of All Time). I am super satisfied and feel like a very lucky person in general for all the good things that happen to me in life. I am not going to be frustrated if Novak or Roger finish careers with more Grand Slams than me. Let’s enjoy the situation. We did very special things in our sport. The other things don’t matter.”

It’s not surprising that way back in 2008 the tennis champ and his mother founded the ‘Rafa Nadal foundation.’ ‘To try to help and give back to society all the luck we have and how well life has treated us. To bring into play the transformative power of education and sports. For the disadvantaged children.’ The Foundation has also embraced the care of the children with intellectual disabilities and the cause of social integration of vulnerable kids. A Nadal educational and tennis school was set up at Anantpur in India in 2010. The students from poor communities are assured of academic support, tennis coaching, nutritious meals and basic health care. Toni Nadal, his uncle and well known coach heads the Tennis Academy which opened in Mallorca, Spain and is now home to 130 youngsters. The Academy courts have since rolled out in Greece and Kuwait also.

The other much feted tennis star Roger Federer has transcended his sport to become a global cultural icon. His 20 Grand Slam triumphs and innumerable ATP tournament wins have just added to his aura- oozing cool, charm and charisma. But the young Roger was prone to outbursts and tantrums and bouts of laziness. At Roland Garros in 2000, his first year on tour, he created an unseemly racket by throwing his racquet 4 times in succession. In 2001, his loss at the Hamburg Open was exacerbated by his unsportsmanlike behaviour. The emotional turning point came with the death of his coach Peter Carter in a car accident in August 2002. The young Swiss tennis player was devastated and bawled his heart out. He made a decision to change his life amidst ferocious grief.  Now with an acute sense of mortality, he started seeing a sports psychologist (The Roger Federer Story- the Quest for Perfection by Rene Stauffer). “So… so his phenomenal mental strength was not a natural gift but a learned skill. He decided to combat Fire with Ice. Have fire and the burning desire to win but also the ice-coolness to absorb losses and bad matches.” Hardly  surprising that his peers voted him to receive the Sportsmanship Award 13 times.

When tennis was becoming boring with power dominated baseline games, Fed Ex with the sheer beauty of his game and the fluid movements took the game of tennis to another level. The touch and the finesse , the subtlety and the artistry took our breath away. Roger Federer was the master of reading his opponents  game and manipulating spaces on the courts through sublime movements. What has stayed with me is an article in a sports magazine describing him as, “a combination of Zorro with a flashing blade and a graceful ballet dancer.” The Swiss Master, 5 years Nadal’s senior, has gone through foot and back injuries in 2007 & 2008 and 3 knee procedures in 2020-2021.

It is not sufficiently well known that he  is the author and the driver behind the ‘Laver Cup’- pitting European tennis players against their counterparts from the rest of the world. Inspired by the ‘Ryder Cup’ in golf but graciously named after the Australian maestro.

The Roger Federer foundation has been working effectively for 18 years to help poor and handicapped children in Switzerland and across 6 southern African countries. It has delivered meaningful primary education to more than 2 million kids to give them a fair shot at life. More than $ 52 million have been invested over 7000 schools. For education and nutritious meals. More than 10000 teachers have gone through mentoring programs to make a real difference in the class rooms. During the Covid lockdown 64000 children in Africa were sustained through the injection of $1 million for their welfare. His Humanitarian stature is further enhanced by the fact that a world-wide poll listed him at no. 2 amongst the most respected and trusted people. No. 1 was Nelson Mandela.

The third member of the Holy Trinity is the Serb, Novak Djokovic. Despite his current travails the odds are that in a year or so he will be anointed as GOAT amongst mens’ tennis players.  At least another 2 or 3 Grand Slam majors silver ware will adorn his expanding trophy cabinet. He is regarded as the greatest counterpuncher and possibly the best returner of serve of all time. A lethal backhand and awesome all-court agility makes him the force that he is. The pinpoint accuracy and depth of his shots overwhelm even his ranked opponents. Another interesting aspect of his game, pointed out by pundits, is his uncanny ability to raise the level of his game. And when it’s about the ‘big points’ Novak sails through. Rafael Nadal has admitted that the difficulty in playing Djoko is that there is no clear game plan because there is no clear weakness. He is unique in the sense that he is an implacable defender at heart who mutates into a dominant attacker at will.

Djokovic, who is not held in the same esteem as Federer and Nadal, received the the ATP Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award in 2012. He and his wife Jelena have been hugely supportive of good and inclusive early childhood education in Serbia. Some may be surprised to know that this anti-vaxxer  has donated 1 million pounds  for purchase of ventilators and other medical equipment to support hospitals in his country during the pandemic. An eye-brow raising nugget is that Novak is an 80% promoter in a Danish bio-tech firm which hopes to come up with a cure for the Covid virus.

Over the last few years the tennis ace has made some poor choices which have landed him into controversy. At the height of the pandemic he organised the Adria tennis tour in the Balkans. Thousands of tickets were sold and players like Cilic, Thiem and Dimitrov signed up. The tournament had to be cancelled after some of the players tested positive. In 2021 he made a list of demands to Tennis Australia before the AO. Like private houses for the players and private tennis courts and reduction in the quarantine periods. This attitude of self-entitlement continued at this year’s AO when a confused and incompetent Aussie establishment finally deported him on ‘Public Health and Good Order’ grounds. The bad times go back to the 4th round of the 2021 US Open where Novak defaulted the match for hitting a line-umpire with the ball, albeit inadvertently, in frustration.

Sports has its great players and athletes who are not so great role models. And there are the hallowed few who embody the soul and spirit of Sports through their masterful skills and amazing grace.  Game, set and match.  Despite the number of tennis majors’ trophies on Novak’s shelves, Roger and Rafa will remain the most admired and respected tennis players.

Management Lessons from the Sports Field

Posted on by
8

Think over these phrases. ‘Hitting the targets’, ‘achieving the goals’, ‘passing the baton’, ‘ knock it out of the park’, ‘ ball in their court’, ‘run the last mile’. All part of the sporting lexicon. Also commonly found in management jargon and vocabulary.

There is a lot that sports can bring to the Management space. Valuable lessons for corporates, institutions, government bodies, colleges and even organisations like political parties. These examples resonate as they connect to hearts and minds and are out there for all to experience.

Institutional culture flows from the top. Coach, Manager, Captain. CEO, CXO, Manager. Take the case of Greg Chappell, Head cricket coach for the Indian team for 2 turbulent years till the ignominious exit at the World Cup 2007. Tendulkar writes in his book, “Greg was like a ringmaster who imposed his ideas on the players without showing any signs of being concerned about whether they felt comfortable or not.” In many entities also, the leader seeks to remould the team in his/her own image. No reaching out. Few consultations. Just top to down orders.  A recipe for disaster.

Let’s turn to Liverpool, the current EPL champions after a 30 year wait. They also won the European Championship last year. Here’s what Mo Salah, their star forward, has to say about the Manager-Jurgen Klopp, ‘He always wants to do his best for the team. To make everyone smile and be happy. Which means every player wants to give 100% for him.’ There it is. A management lesson in a nutshell.

Rewind to the famous Ashes series of 1981. England under Ian Botham had not won even one of the previous 12 Tests. Enter Brearley as captain. An awkward and challenging situation, right! He brings out the best in the players to lift the Urn and Botham owns the series. As Rodney Hogg, the Aussie fast bowler, remarked in admiration, “He (Brearley) has a degree in people.” Do corporate leaders have any time for people skills? Do they listen?  Bond with their team? Cheer wins? Have their backs when things do not work out? A good work environment breeds good results.

Team bonding exercises are a yearly ritual in corporate life. But camaraderie and trust takes time to build. Collaboration does not happen overnight. Where is the patience and vision to invest in team spirit?  Although the dividends will be rich and consistent. To appreciate team spirit log in to the careers of Michael Jordan and Lionel Messi. True team players. Not larger than the team. MJ has averaged an incredible 30 points and 5.3 assists per game over his basketball career. Messi has a 70:30 ratio in his 1000 goals football score card. (Assist is passing the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score or goal).

‘The Last Dance’ portrays the Chicago Bulls winning streak in the NBA championships in the 90’s. 1998 was their last hurrah as champions. What happened? The GM, Jerry Krause, had a grouse with the Coach, Phil Jackson. MJ and Phil and the team were getting too much credit. The CB organisation deserved the plaudits. With a compliant owner in his corner, the GM dismantled the team. Players became free agents, were traded or retired like MJ did. Since then the Chicago Bulls have disappeared into the shadows. Sounds familiar? In the corporate world, the work force is often taken for granted. Cost to Company. Dispensable. Not an important stake-holder in the growth and success. Further, how many organisations have suffered because of internal ego clashes and politics. Finally, change for the sake of change is not a good idea, especially when things are going well.

Managers tend to come down hard on failures. Tongue or mail lashing is the norm even if the recipient has had a good track-record. A poor appraisal can derail the career or destroy the morale. One below-par year can even shut down an office. The Brazilian footballer Ronaldo won the Golden Boot at FIFA 1998. But the red hot favourites lost to the hosts France in the final where the star player did little of consequence. This could have haunted him for the rest of his life. An albatross around his neck! But the powers that be in his home nation reposed their faith in him and built a very talented squad around him. This vote of confidence- despite him coming out of injury just months before the gala event- the WC 2002. He repaid that belief in him and how! Two striking goals in the finals against Germany. The Golden Boot award was his again for his 8 goals in the tournament. But this was just the icing on the cake. Brazil were the champions again.

Mentoring is an aspect of management which is largely ignored. S/he becomes the guru for the younger members and the freshers to take them through the paces. All do not need hand-holding or supervision. Some just require the occasional advice and appreciation to keep them going. Acknowledgement of good work is the key. Credit be given where it is due. Even small wins be celebrated to keep the environment humming. P Gopichand is not just a badminton coach but a mentor. He is a task-master but also a pillar of support. Hence, Saina Nahiwal comes back to the Academy after leaving for a year in 2016. PV Sindhu continues to make badminton headlines. Two world beaters trained and nurtured for many years. But Gopi has carved out separate spaces for them to thrive.

Sports also guides us on how and where to scout for the right talent. In India, the long ostracised Bhil tribals are now major hopes for an Olympic gold medal in archery. Small town cricketers have shown that they have what it takes to reach the top. Corporate chiefs should pay heed. They should also look beyond the prime college campuses. Look out for ‘the fire in the belly’ candidates albeit with modest qualifications. They will bring value to the Boardroom table.

They can also take a leaf out of Paralympic Sports. Multi-sports events for athletes with physical disabilities and intellectual impairments. Surely, some workstations can be found to give the blind and the deaf and the physically handicapped a start in their work-life.

At many companies, there is a generalised approach to training and orientation. Everyone goes through the same stuff at some stage. Let’s bring in Usain Bolt, the 100/200 metres champion. He has never run a mile in his life, even in training. The sprinters’ focus is all about speed and muscle. The 90 mins daily gym workout, the nutrition and diet regimes and the speed dashes are carefully calibrated to achieve this. Endurance tests are for the long distance runners. L&D (learning & development) can experiment with need-to-know basis modules. Plus Upskilling courses to meet market expectations and needs. Specialised sessions to keep the line experts sharp. Most of all organise more workshops to develop soft skills and leadership proficiency.

Federer and Nadal. The fiercest rivalry ever in tennis. The Grand Slam encounters were virtually battlegrounds. But out of court, their respect for each other is heart-warming. Their aura as role-models goes well beyond their sport. What makes a Company an enduring brand? When all the bases are covered. There is respect and trust from the customers, vendors, employees, share-holders and the market at large.

Some cricketing nuggets for the Managers to chew on. Clive Lloyd’s team were humiliated by the Aussies on the 74-75 tour at the hands of Lillee and Thompson. The Captain resolved to fight pace with more pace, fire-power with greater fire-power. Thus started the assembly line of great fast bowlers. The Windies dominated the turf from the late 70’s till the early 90’s. Like Lloyd, companies can chose to do what major competition is doing. Only do it much better.

Sri Lanka were the proverbial minnows in cricket. Till they won the 1996 World Cup. The openers Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana attacked from the word go taking advantage of the fielding restrictions in the first 15 overs. Cricket logic had been turned on its head. This success formula soon had other successful imitators. The disruptive strategy of the Lankan captain, Ranatunga, also has its takers in the corporate world. Technological innovation which upends the game in say customer service deliverables. Or Product positioning. FMCG companies discovered the brisk uptake in small-town India when their prime shampoos were marketed in affordable sachets and pouches.

HR becoming a part of business strategy. Horses for courses. The right people in the right places. Consider reading the pitch to decide the team composition. Whether to play with 4 quicks or 2 spinners or with 6 batsmen, or else, different players for different formats- T 20 or Tests?

The Fosbury flop which won the American athlete Dick Fosbury the high –jump gold at the 1968 Olympics revolutionised the technique. A straight approach, twisting on take-off, going over heads first with the back to the bar. Not the scissors cut or straddle or the western roll. “The physics of the FLOP allowed the athlete to bend the back around the bar at the peak and clearing the bar whist the centre of mass travelled under the bar ‘’ says a Stanford Education study. All the elite jumpers now use this innovative backward style. Corporates have to innovate to stay relevant and ahead of the relentless competition. They are finding ways of raising the bar and clearing it.

Analytics.  E-Commerce firms are already putting it to great use for customer profiling and figuring out buying patterns.  Others are playing catch-up for cross-sell and up-sell opportunities and understanding the market dynamics better. At top level sports, analytics is a must and pros travel with the teams. They have to keep a tab on rival teams. Check-out tactics, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the opponents. Focus on neutralising the key players. In hockey, the goal keeper studies the kinematics (the ball movements) of the penalty corner conversions of the other team. The batter in baseball pores over videos on how to decode the curveball or slider from the pitcher. In business, analytics helps to stay a step ahead of the competition and have more clarity on the way forward. Additionally, the company can reinforce its position by adopting the good practices of other peer companies.

Sports offers both inspiration and guidance to the management fraternity. Our work lives would be much better if those in a position of power and influence imbibe the lessons from the Sports fields.