I was always sure about the fact that national sporting wins, on an international stage, influence individuals in a country in a way that no one has really been able to analyze or realize. As a kid, we all loved it when India won a close cricket game- it was pure joy for the the two subsequent minutes. But there is more to it now.
Today, Somdev Devvarman won his second Gold Medal at the on-going Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. Yesterday, he won a Gold medal in the Doubles event with another young gun, Sanam Singh. (Mind you, the Indian original tennis stalwarts were away playing the World Tour Series). Now this is huge- winning golds in the Asian Games is not easy. For India, its probably the second only to the Olympics in terms of toughness. But everyone knows this- hopefully the press will give it the attention these guys completely deserve.
But my focus is on us. You. When you read this, what do you feel? At one level its a great sporting feat, but at another level there is pride. For the last 60 odd years of Independence, we have been fighting malnutrition and poverty, and surely this transpired to our athletes. There were those few gems from here and there, but there was never a fleet of young, fiery Indian athletes performing at the world stage. Somdev is a gifted player, but he is ridiculously fit. He speaks with flair, oozing confidence while retaining the humility that young players who have made it up with a lot of heart always possess. Saina Nehwal, who although had a poor showing at the Games by her own standards, is another case in point. She beats the Chinese and Koreans at a game where they have unparalleled dominance. And its not simply because of the deft touch that the Indian shooters are blessed with, or the talent the Indian hockey team in the 60's had. Its also because she is fitter than them. She is quicker, stronger. She is confident. She has financial backing, sponsors and there is a pride at being an Indian athlete now.
But I know the kind of struggle these guys must have put up to get there. In school, in college. I know for a fact that Saina used to go on a scooter for two hours sitting behind her father for practice every morning. And while it makes for a poetic and inspirational story right now, I am pretty sure there were times then when the background music just did not elevate her spirits.
Just as these guys arrive on the sporting scene internationally, at a platform which is of equals, so does the rest of India. Symbolic moments deserve far more importance than we give them- its these moments that help inspire, that help most people believe that we are equals with the rest of the world. There is a whole generation growing up, reading the newspapers, blogging, texting, networking in a world where India's burning it on the world stage like any other. In fact, sometimes the transition is so seamless that they don't realize the quiet revolution they are a part of.
When I saw Somdev stare right into the hoisted tricolour, singing the national anthem and trying hard to hold back his tears, I feel a sense of pride that far exceeds the parade of weaponry on Republic Day. Maybe its because this guy is my age; maybe because I know how hard an athlete has to train to get to that level, and then convert it to a one. But when you see a young spirited, fighting Indian shed a tear with his eyes fixed on the flag, I feel the struggle that we as a country make every single day- not only in sports, but with our people, with our poverty, our politics and our future. And for that one moment, we win.
