Saina Nehwal

Saina Nehwal, India’s newest wonderkid on the badminton block, has a few smart answers up her sleeve

She has kept pace with the fleet-footed Chinese badminton players and has emerged as the first Indian to win a major event since Pullela Gopichand’s All England title. And this is not the only ‘first’ preceding her name. Saina Nehwal is the first Indian woman to reach the singles quarterfinals at the Olympics and the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships. She’s currently ranked number 10. And close on the heels of that, has been named The Most Promising Player in 2008 by the Badminton World Federation. Indian badminton has never had the spotlights focused on it for quite some time now, but this level headed and determined youngster is all set to change that. Saina gives us some straight answers to the few pechidaquestions we posed…

 

Have you ever felt the need for a foreign coach? No, never. Because I’m happy and lucky that I’ve got the best training from my Indian coach, Pullela Gopichand. Whatever I’m today is because of his support and guidance. I strongly feel that the level of training that I am getting from my Indian coach is much better that of what I’d get with a foreign one. There are a lot of advantages to getting trained by an Indian coach – they understand the players, also the way the coach uses his mind to train the players is totally different.

 

Has the current bullish attitude of Indian sports impacted your breaking into the top 10? After the Olympics, I can say that people are really recognising all sports. I feel that badminton needs more results at the moment. And if I can give my best, maybe in the future, badminton can become a much loved game in the country.

Are we, as a sporting nation, perceived any differently now from a few years ago, after repeated success abroad?
Not all sports in India have done well. There are sports like shooting, badminton and boxing, which have only recently got recognition – after the 2008 Olympic Games. Obviously, this shows that sports is slowly gaining more importance in India. I’m sure the way all sports are coming up, we can also be like China. The need of the hour is proper guidance of the players. We must encourage and support them. The major drawback is that we being a sporting nation are actually behind other nations and recognise only cricket as the main sport. We should also look forward to encouraging new sports in India. I’m not happy with the way cricket is grabbing all the attention in India, as compared to other sports. You need to realise that there are other sportsmen who are also working hard and are trying to get there.

Do you think individual sports in India, like badminton for instance, will ever make an impact globally, the way cricket has?
Badminton will definitely make an impact on the global front. Now after my performance, I think badminton is getting its due recognition. Slowly, we are improving and trying to win matches at international level. I have done it and I am sure other players can also do it one day.

Are sportspersons from individual sports doing better because there’s less pressure and attention?
It is so with all kinds of sports. Individuals cannot win all the time. Sometimes, when you lose a match, you are also criticised. So it’s not true that as an individual it’s easier to perform and there are no pressures. It is quite tough, in fact, and there is too much international competition. That is more scary than when playing in a team.

What do you think your Olympic stint and breaking into the top 10 will do for your sport and the perception of India as sporting nation globally?
The sports scenario is changing in India. I see many small town players participating in tournaments and also attending training classes. It is great to see young boys and girls showing interest towards badminton ever since my performance has been lauded. If we keep this impetus going strong, I see a bright future for badminton in India

 

 

 

(Source: The Times Of India) 

The cueist’s clue

He’s just twenty-something. He’s also a world champ. There aren’t many who won’t bet their money on him when he leans over the green baize. Pankaj Advani, one of India’s few individual sports success stories, on how we can master that winning edge

 

He is one of the few ‘other than cricketers’ sporting success stories of India. The world first noticed him in 2003, when he won his first world championship title, the IBSF World Snooker Championship in China. And now, he’s become the champion, having, at 23, already won five world and two Asian billiards titles besides an Asian Games gold. So, what sort of an attitude does it take to be a world beater? “I maintain my cool, always. I am also determined and well focused,” says Advani. Do Indian sportspersons in general have that sort of attitude? “Each person has his own way of reacting to things,” he shrugs.

He’s played in enough tournaments abroad to be able to have a ‘world view’ of sorts when it comes to Indian sporting representation on a global level. So, does he agree that of late, Indians have been doing well globally in sports besides cricket? “Yes, people have now become aware and more interested in other sports as well. But this is only because they want to venture into something other than the usual – cricket, football and tennis,” opines Advani. But many of these sports – shooting, billiards, chess, badminton, boxing – are individual sports, in the sense that the sportsperson doesn’t compete as part of a team. Does he think such individual sports are consistently showing better results in the country than cricket, which gets more hype and publicity? “Football, cricket and tennis are more popular simply because they are very well packaged and marketed. Instead of whining about being neglected, we should learn from them. My big wins might hopefully increase the corporate funding for the game, but its achievement scores over popularity in sports,” says he, adding, “We have emerged as a far more stronger country when it comes to individual sports because of proper coaching and the dedication that the youngsters are showing these days. For me, it was because of my brother, Shree, who’s my motivator, my attitude coach. He understands the nuances of the game inside out.”

Ask Advani this next question and he comes up with a clue as to how we can turn
the situation to our advantage. Has cricket and IPL contributed to a change in perception with regards to Indian sportspersons? “Like I said before, IPL is more popular. It is so because the organisers wanted it so, and to that effect, they packaged it, and then put their marketing team on the job. And this mantra of marketing is something all of us, from other sporting fields, could do well to learn. If we take the IPL as an example, realise that each and every sport, when presented well has takers and can change the world’s attitude towards us, and then work towards that end, then we will see results. Players, state associations and federations should all get together to take their respective sport forward.”

That’s well said, but what does he think is needed to help Indian sportspersons do as well in all sports? What areas are our kamzor kadis, so to speak, that are holding us back? “In billiards, we have many talented youngsters like the Bhushan brothers from Bangalore, Shravan Mohta and Shahbaz Khan. With proper coaching and dedication, they can beat anyone. So, if we move ahead with the right spirit and dedication, I don’t think anything or anyone can stop us. And the state federations need to be a little more proactive. I get many letters from youngsters asking where they can play and who will coach them. They are interested, but don’t know where or how to begin.”

But Advani did, and what a beginning – he’s never looked back since! Do all these achievements in such a short span make his chest swell with pride? “Well, it does give me immense pride, it’s my accomplishment after all. But more than anything, I love the feeling of an Indian beating the rest of the world!”

 

 

 

(Source: The Times Of India) 

Indian Chess

‘IT HAS BEEN A GOOD YEAR FOR INDIAN CHESS ’

 

The fact that only cricket gets all the attention in India doesn’t frazzle him one bit. For, he’s content with doing what he’s been doing for years now – beating the best of players at their own game. For, that is what chess is all about, isn’t it? In real terms, his contribution to making India a force to reckon with on a global platform when it comes to chess has been more or less singular and consistent, but he’s not the one to talk about it…

 

In his case, of course, it’s all about the right moves. Vishwanathan Anand, the ‘undisputed world chess champion’, has quietly, unobtrusively, stayed right on top of his game, consistently, for years. The impact of this Indian on his sport is gigantic, and yet, Anand doesn’t believe in making a great deal of noise about it or calling attention to himself in any way. But it has been increasing, over the past few years, as his achievements have gotten bigger and bigger and the focus has moved from just cricket in India to other sports and games as well.

Not that Anand doesn’t like the attention. “Yes, the attention is good, as long as you don’t let it get to your head. It’s important to keep a balance between the sport and yourself. The sportsperson should remember that they have a job on the field,” he said to DT in an interview, right after he won against Kramnik earlier this year, clinching the title of the world champion. He is also known to painstakingly answer fan mail. “This is somehow very reassuring. It gives you the feeling that your work is really important. It is a very special feeling to be aware that your moves mean more than just mere results to many people,” he has said.

It means more, a great deal more. A blogger writes, “Chess has had its share of maverick stars – Bobby Fischer, Garry Kasparov, Victor Korchnoi, Vasily Ivanchuk and the likes have had their share of the spotlight and have been in the news for the right and wrong reasons. Indian legend Viswanathan Anand stands apart from the pack as the gentleman dignified champion who has taken victory and defeat with grace. The amiable wizard has assured himself of a place in the chess pantheon after winning the World title with an emphatic win over Russian Vladimir Kramnik at Bonn this week. With the title win, Anand has accomplished something which no other chess great, not even Garry Kasparov has done. He has asserted his supremacy in the world by winning every possible format on offer now, that is, knowckout, round-robin and matchplay formats. Renowned for his lightning speed on the chess board, Anand has stunned the best in the business with his play and several trophies have come his way in the course of his illustrious career.” Another says, “Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand is quite simply, the greatest sportsman India has.”

The man himself thinks international, but takes his achievements very lightly. “It (chess as a medal sport in Olympics) should become a reality in eight years time,” he said in an interview after he won the title of world champion again. “In the next four years, it should become a demonstration sport before it becomes a full-fledged medal sport in Olympics. I wish it becomes a reality in eight years’ time. 2008 has been a very good year for Indian chess. I hope this trend continues for some more time,” he added. “Indians had been consistently improved performance.”
Even Vadimir Kramnik, whom Anand beat, didn’t mind losing to a player like him. “He was very interesting all the way. When you are playing against a player like Vishy, you can lose,” he said.

His attitude, however, is clearly that of a world beater. “Winning is important,” he has said. “For the record books, it’s nice. But for me, it was just important to win the world championship. I understand (that) for some people, the match format is a very important format and this completes it for the history books – is nice.” On another occasion, he has said, “Confidence is very important – even pretending to be confident. If you make a mistake but do not let your opponent see what you are thinking then he may overlook the mistake.” As one blogger put it, “Viswanathan Anand remains ‘Viswanathan’ Anand.”

 

 

 

(Source: The Times Of India) 

Abhinav Bindra

‘A GOLD ISN ’TJUST A DREAM ANYMORE ’

 

The fact that he’s proved that an Olympic gold is not an unattainable dream, is the biggest joy for him, says Abhinav Bindra, shooter and India’s lone Olympic gold medallist. For every Indian sportsperson now, the gold medal is achievable

 

 

Abhinav Bindra doesn’t believe that we should keep considering his gold at the Beijing Olympics earlier this year as the defining moment of India’s sporting glory. However, he does agree that it changed the perception of Indians among the rest of the world’s sporting nations, and, most importantly, it changed Indians sportspersons’ perceptions about themselves.

“It’s fantastic that we’ve won three medals – I mean, that’s one way to look at it, but I’m someone who’s aimed high all my life, and I believe that that has been crucial to my success. In a country of a billion people, we’ve won three medals. Do you think Australia – one fifth the size of India – would have been satisfied with that, or that China would? The Olympics are associated with a lot of national pride, and we must work at progressing and bettering our performance there. Sure, we’ve won a gold medal, but we must use this start to make sure that talented Indian sportspersons in all Olympic sports are given the opportunity to nurture their talent,” he says, refusing to let himself, or his country, rest on its laurels.

But he does concede, before he starts on what he thinks needs to be changed in the sporting infrastructure in India, that his medal changed things as far as the perception of India as a sporting nation goes. “When I won the medal, it created a lot of news the world over, not just in India – that India won their first ever individual gold medal. It’s always been a big thing for a nation to
do that. It has changed the perception of India. I get calls from journalists in other countries now to do stories on this – they’ve realised that Indians are world beaters too,” he says.

The most important change, however, he says is that Indians have begun to believe that too. “The main thing that has changed is the perception among the sportspersons of this country. When I was growing up, a gold medal was a faraway thing. Of course, I’ve always wanted to win, but it completely changed the dynamics and perceptions and psychological set-up of an Indian athlete. Now it’s a reality, it’s not a dream anymore. That changes the way you look at things. More and more athletes now believe that it’s a reality and it can be done. That’s a great source of joy and pride to me,” he says.

He highlights that, as far as Indian sports go, shooting is the “number 1 performing sport”, even better than cricket. “My sport has a lot of talent in India, and if we just look at sheer performance, it’s by far the number 1 sport here. We have Olympic medallists, world champions, record holders, Asian gold medallists, Commonwealth gold medals – we’ve won everything in the world. Shooting is by far is the number 1 performing sport in India, far ahead of cricket or any other, even though cricket might be more popular,” he says.
But it’s not all hunky dory, to come back to the point he made earlier. He emphasises that, apart from infrastructure and better trained coaches, Indian sportspersons also need a little more of the attitude that’s already building up among them. “Things have improved over a period of time – more money has come into sports, for instance – and I’m not being completely critical of what’s prevalent in the system. But we’re a nation that’s developing in all spheres of life, that aims high, aspires to be a superpower in times to come, and we must also aspire to be a sporting power. If we have to compete with nations like China, we must perform in the same way. In that context, things are poor. But we have won three medals at the Olympics. It’s important that from the start, right at the grassroots level, we should have the goal and vision to win more medals. Its important that you foundation be strong,” he says.

 

 

 

(Source: The Times Of India)