Looking back at 2016 - Blog number 2
Sindhu and the transformation of badminton.
It is a pity that the English speaking world doesn't have many badminton fans.
It is also a pity that the game has had China as a powerhouse for long.
So, what is the link?
Avid sports watchers would agree that the Chinese are possibly the most emotionless players. You would never know whether an athlete has won the Gold or lost a bronze.
And, what is sports sans emotions? Does it not become a game of robots...
All of us who grew up watching sports enjoyed them because of the literature and the commentators.
Neville Cardus brought Sir Bradman to us, authors like Gideon Haigh and writers like Peter Roebuck brought alive sporting exploits.
Would we have enjoyed Cricket as much if it were not for Richie Benaud's incisive comments or Ravi Shastri's voice as he exulted in the joy of Dhoni's six in the World Cup win.
Would we have enjoyed Federer's forehand as much if it were not for Vijay Amritraj sharing it live?
Would not be wrong to say that lack of literature and emotion had historically not made Badminton a marquee game, an audience magnet and a subject of much conversation.
But, that changed in 2016. The change agent - Sindhu.
As she started slaying the Chinese and winning major championships, the courts don't look the same. Feelings, emotions have made their first step.
Predictability is out (earlier you always knew a Chinese would win) and excitement in. The game does not have the drabness of earlier days.
Possibly for the first time in Indian sports history, a woman brought the country to a standstill.
Open any newspaper, magazine or a sports web site these days and you are sure to the see the smiling assassin Sindhu there.
Sports articles dedicated to her have gone up.
The best news - she has not stopped winning.
Very rarely have we seen such a transformation in such a short span of time.
That makes Sindhu, for me, the Indian sportsperson of the year.
Sindhu and the transformation of badminton.
It is a pity that the English speaking world doesn't have many badminton fans.
It is also a pity that the game has had China as a powerhouse for long.
So, what is the link?
Avid sports watchers would agree that the Chinese are possibly the most emotionless players. You would never know whether an athlete has won the Gold or lost a bronze.
And, what is sports sans emotions? Does it not become a game of robots...
All of us who grew up watching sports enjoyed them because of the literature and the commentators.
Neville Cardus brought Sir Bradman to us, authors like Gideon Haigh and writers like Peter Roebuck brought alive sporting exploits.
Would we have enjoyed Cricket as much if it were not for Richie Benaud's incisive comments or Ravi Shastri's voice as he exulted in the joy of Dhoni's six in the World Cup win.
Would we have enjoyed Federer's forehand as much if it were not for Vijay Amritraj sharing it live?
Would not be wrong to say that lack of literature and emotion had historically not made Badminton a marquee game, an audience magnet and a subject of much conversation.
But, that changed in 2016. The change agent - Sindhu.
As she started slaying the Chinese and winning major championships, the courts don't look the same. Feelings, emotions have made their first step.
Predictability is out (earlier you always knew a Chinese would win) and excitement in. The game does not have the drabness of earlier days.
Possibly for the first time in Indian sports history, a woman brought the country to a standstill.
Open any newspaper, magazine or a sports web site these days and you are sure to the see the smiling assassin Sindhu there.
Sports articles dedicated to her have gone up.
The best news - she has not stopped winning.
Very rarely have we seen such a transformation in such a short span of time.
That makes Sindhu, for me, the Indian sportsperson of the year.
