Some discrete sports tidbits

Now that Yuvraj Singh, after performing admirably for a few innings and failing thereafter, has come down from the high of returning to the Indian team, it is time to acknowledge the fight he has truly won. The western world, particularly the US greatly celebrated Lance Armstrong’s come back from cancer and winning the Tour de France multiple times (and over indulging in his success as is normal there). Well, that story has been told a million times. But, let us tell a more uplifting story about Yuvraj Singh who is unlikely to be dethroned and de-celebrated a la Armstrong. This one is for Yuvraj Singh, who did what my mother could not do, survive cancer. Way to go champ!

I received the news that Saina Nehwal failed at the last hurdle in the World Super Series Final with severe distress. Her failure resembled somewhat her faltering performance in the Beijing Olympics, leading and then failing to hold on to the advantage at a critical juncture. No, no, no, I am not going to say she choked, because I would not know what choking is, given that I have never been in such clutch situations at that level. It distresses me that she held a four point advantage in the first game at 20-16 and then lost it at 20-22. This is worse than how she failed in Beijing. But, I am in the mood to celebrate her performances in this tournament, having had herself backed into a corner and firing away to come out. That is Saina, and I salute her.

Some time ago, Sachin Tendulkar threw down the gauntlet at the selectors, “Fire me!” No, he was not so crude; he couched his position in highly diplomatic words, to the effect that the selectors should ask him to go, implying that he would not retire on his own – no Dravid for him. He was calling the selectors a bunch of cowards without being explicit about it. Perhaps his stint in the government as Rajya Sabha MP has rubbed off on his behavior even outside. Why can Sachin not acknowledge that he is going downhill and even though he may come through with a scintillating knock now and then, it is too much to ask of the team to rely on this unpredictable success with the bat? In this crime, it is unfortunate that Vivian Richards has partnered Sachin. How much ever Sachin may have done for Indian cricket, he has discounted all of them by this attitude. This is sad.

Raghuram Ekambaram