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ISSUE #09 THE PLUS AUG’20 Don' t be let down “ “ by hurdles, till you hit your target. CONTENTS Tap the page number to skip

Introduction p 2 Concept Note: Ice Water in the Veins p 6 In Conversation With p 9 From Reader’s Pen p 16 Saga of Determination p 20 Indic Sports p 24 Post COVID World: Future of Sports p 29 Career In Sports p 31 CREATIVE EDITOR: AYUSHEE CHAUDHARY Evolution and History [email protected] p 35 CREATIVE DESIGNER: Top Sport Movies MUNMUN AGGARWAL p 39 [email protected] Letters of the Past CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS: AYUSHEE CHAUDHARY p 41 VIKAS SRIVASTAVA NISHTHA NARANG This Day, That Year MEHAK GUPTA p 43

GUEST CONTRIBUTORS: Subscribe The Plus MANU BHAKER p 45 Olympics Gold Medallist ANIKA AGARWAL, Teenspiration The Plus reader, Bangalore p 46 Introduction

Hello, our young readers!

We are excited to welcome you onboard to yet another edition of ‘The Plus’. This month we have tried to explore the world of Sports. Games and sports have been one of the most constant and crucial entities of a person’s life. ‘All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy’, is a saying we have all grown up with. The statement holds its essence in the fact that sports keep you not just physically healthy but also nurture your emotional and mental well-being.

In this issue, you will know about India’s journey into the world of sports, presence of games since the ancient times, some inspiring stories of young and old from the sports world , think about the future of sports post corona, career possibilities if you are a sports enthusiast, movies to get you the right motivation and more. This issue is created to help you understand the value of sports and the values that sports offer.

This month India will also be celebrating its 73rd Independence Day. As we all dealt with being stuck at home this year, freedom will now resonate with a deeper sense of responsibility. The month also celebrates friendship’s day as well as National Sports Day (Rashtriya Khel Divas) which is celebrated on August 29 to mark the birth anniversary of the legendary hockey player, Dhyan Chand Singh. Patriotism, freedom, friendship, responsibility are all emotions that echo with the spirit of sports.

We will be back with another issue next month. Meanwhile, we would love to hear from you. Your suggestions, ideas, feedback submissions are all welcome. This magazine is an effort by IGenPlus to reach you, teenagers, and be rest assured, we are here for you!

02 THE IGP FAMILY

SOUMYA HARI KIRAN AGGARWAL VADLAMANI

AYUSHEE MUNMUN CHAUDHARY MEHAK AGGARWAL GUPTA

NISHTHA POOJA PANKHURI NARANG MANI MITTAL

SUMIT VIKAS SINGH SRIVASTAVA Letter from the CEO

Namaste,

While we get acquainted to living a life in the new normal in amidst of the pandemic, IGenPlus has geared to meet the changing lives through online programs on leadership, scientific thinking and mantra chanting.

Through this edition, we talk about sports and the changing aspects in this field that comes with the pandemic. You will discover the contribution of India in giving the world amazing games and her achievements in becoming one of the finest sports nation.

At IGenPlus, we focus on preparing teenagers for life and sports is one of the most essential element. It makes us emotionally stable, gives us physical fitness and improves our mental well-being.

So if you are waiting to go out and play your favourite sport, just be at it. Because this tough time is checking our patience and preparedness for the bigger challenge.

Love, Soumya

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/IGENPLUS Also thanks to the high dopamine, players are better at dealing with stress. Concept Note Is that some kind of an energy drink Ice Water in the Veins You can look at it that way but you don’t get it in a supermarket. It is produced in your own Have you got some “ice water in your veins”? Say what? body. Basically, when one plays or moves ener- getically, the body starts producing a feel-good chemical hormone called dopamine Many of the successful athletes have often been (read as the happy hormone) which signals the observed to be cool and calm under pressure which is brain that everything is going well at that probably the reason for their success as it allows them moment. It also helps in improving one’s ability to stay focussed on the task at their hand. In other to deal with stress and endure pain. words, they have ice water in their veins. That’s interesting! The phrase is defined as the ability to remain Yes, sports aren’t all about the physical play you composed and controlled in a situation. see, they do develop an emotional maturity as well. Players experience a surplus of emotions and develop many behavioral attributes like You mean like our Captain Cool ? team spirit, commitment, determination, disci- Yes! We do sometimes observe aggression by pline, empathy, etc. players but more often than not, sportspersons are identified with these “ice water traits” that let One could call sports an arch towards holistic them keep calm and routinely defy odds to deliv- development that facilitates a balanced exis- er a result even while under pressure. tence with a combination of emotional, mental, and physical well being. But how does that happen One way to look at it is that? players are usually Now I know why some of my friends who are under an adrenaline rush. That’ so because adren- into sports react in certain ways. Yep, and to aline rush is produced in the body due to threat, run the marathon of life, we all need that holis- stress, or excitement and a player goes through it tic balance to ensure that the ball remains in all. Since they are used to being in an intense our court. mood or situation, they are adapted to dealing with extreme emotions and hence mentally pre- So why don’t you choose your favorite sports pared to be in a more stable state. activity and get the ball rolling? 06 Also thanks to the high dopamine, players are better at dealing with stress.

Is that some kind of an energy drink You can look at it that way but you don’t? get it in a supermarket. It is produced in your own body. Basically, when one plays or moves energetically, the body starts producing a feel-good chemical hormone called dopamine (read as the happy hormone) which signals the brain that everything is going well at that moment. It also helps in improving one’s ability to deal with stress and endure pain.

That’s interesting! Yes, sports aren’t all about the physical play you The phrase is defined as the ability to remain see, they do develop an emotional maturity as composed and controlled in a situation. well. Players experience a surplus of emotions and develop many behavioral attributes like team spirit, commitment, determination, disci- You mean like our Captain Cool pline, empathy, etc. Yes! We do sometimes observe aggression by players but more often than not, sportspersons are One could call sports an arch towards holistic identified with these “ice water traits” that let development that facilitates a balanced exis- them keep calm and routinely defy odds to deliver a tence with a combination of emotional, mental, result even while under pressure. and physical well being.

But how does that happen Now I know why some of my friends who are into One way to look at it is that players are usually sports react in certain ways. under an adrenaline rush. That’ so because Yep, and to run the marathon of life, we all need adrenaline rush is produced in the body due to that holistic balance to ensure that the ball threat, stress, or excitement and a player goes remains in our court. through it all. Since they are used to being in an intense mood or situation, they are adapted to So why don’t you choose your favorite sports dealing with extreme emotions and hence activity and get the ball rolling? mentally prepared to be in a more stable state.

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Certificate of Become lifetime completion and member of the IGP Scholarships community In Conversation With 1st Gold at ISSF World Cup

An 18 year old from Jhajjar, Haryana, Manu Bhaker is an Indian olympian, known for airgun shooting. She represented India at the 2018 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup, won two gold medals and became the youngest Indian to win a gold medal at the ISSF World Cup. She has also won the gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games and is set to represent the country at the postponed Tokyo Olympics next year.

If you could describe your career in a song, what would it be? I never really thought about that but whenever someone or something disappoints me, “ye duniya pittal di” is what comes to my mind in the sense that a lot of people are fake and no one is worth it or “ye duniya, ye mehfil, mere kaam ki nahi”.

09 You started playing at a young age, how has the balancing act been with academics? I have been shooting since I was 14 but other than that I have been playing throughout my life. As much as I remember, I was in class third when I started with athletics, running marathons, races, etc. Then I shifted to skating, followed by football, then basketball. Post that I started with martial arts, taekwondo, karate, everything I could. I am someone who likes to try everything, not just when it comes to sports but also cultural activities like music, dance, and alot more. So sports and activities have always been a part of my life as much as studying and I have been able to balance it decently well. It is not something that I had to make way for, this was always the natural way.

Shooting is a very transparent and fair game!

How did you choose shooting as your sport? Did you ever prank anyone with your airgun? I still do varied activities but with shooting, I am more firm because it is a very transparent and fair game. Whatever hard work we put in, is visible. There is no partiality there, which is what I love about this game. Another thing that I admire about the shooting is that even though I am in the youth category right now, I can still compete with a senior player. There is no age limit or margin.

I play three events, one depends on the ranking, if I am India rank 1 or 2 only then I will be able to play that. Other than that its 25m sports pistol, then the airgun or air pistol shooting. I enjoy all three but I am able to win more medals in airgun so it is mostly highlighted. I have played simple pranks with friends like normally we do but nothing with the pistol because it can be very dangerous and a risk to safety.

10 How has the reaction been of your peers or your friends when they see you have achieved so much at such a young age? I don’t have a lot of friends, not many people talk to me probably because of my serious expression and my silent demeanor but the few friends I have are very cool about it. So I know I might not come across very friendly sometimes due to my serious expressions but I am okay with that because I believe it allows me to stay focussed.

How important has been the role of your parents in your journey? Did you get the support since the beginning? It’s very admirable the way my parents have always supported me and been there for me, as well as my brother. I also believe that the strength of a daughter depends on the strength of the mother, so my mother has had a very significant role. When I was in school,

I had to stay back every day for 2-3 hours of training and no one would be left in the school but my parents would wait with me and be there.

When have you felt the most pressured and how do you cope with it? Pressure is always there. Whether you are participating in a small game or a larger event; whether it’s an exam or an interview; whether you are playing at nationals or in a world championships. You can’t really avoid pressure but you learn how to deal with it, handle it better by preparing yourself for the situations and making yourself mentally firm.

11 How many hours do you train every day? And what’s the most challenging part of your training? When we had the Olympics scheduled, I used to train for 10-12 hours a day. Now that the Olympics have been post- poned, I am trying to save my energy and I train for 5 hours. The most challenging part definitely is getting mentally tired.

Do you have a cheat day? If so, what do you prefer doing that day? Yes, I do, and I do feel that it is required. There are days when you really need a break because when you don’t feel like, you are not able to train properly. Either I sleep all day or hang out with my friend. If this corona situation was not there then I would have probably gone shopping, there is a lot to do. Nowadays I go for horse riding.

What would be the first thing you would do if you wake up as your coach? He has a lot of my pictures which I would probably scroll through and then also pen down the experiences that I have had during the various championships around the world because experiences play an important role in making us who we are and who we become.

Do you follow any ritual before your tournament? Not really, I just make sure that I am happy.

12 What’s the most difficult part of being qualified for the Olympics at this age and what’s the biggest perk? I don’t think there is any major challenge. I have worked hard for it, now I have this and I have to continue working hard for bigger events.

Just one day before I qualified for the Olympics, I lost the chance for it. My pistol broke in the finals even when I was going first through all the rounds and I was eliminated. I was very upset but I told myself, whatever happens, happens for the good. The next day I got back to it, won the quota, and got shortlisted.

Is their enough exposure, awareness, and guidance for sports in our country? We all know that certain sports have more attention in our country but it should not be so, every game is equally important and must be treated that way. We are all trying to make our country proud. Many sportsmen in our country, despite being an Arjuna awardee or a Khel Ratna recipient, are not even known. Change needs to start from an early age, probably through schools by expanding the exposure to all kinds of sports in children. That awareness will add on to the popularity and attract sponsors, which in turn will help in getting the right attention to the sports.

Do you think the current pandemic situation could change the sports scenario? Corona has certainly impacted everyone’s life and some of the major sports events have been delayed but I can’t say how gravely does it impact sports or shooting personally. I rather feel it has brought people closer to the basics of life and about the importance of staying fit and healthy, which is a major part of every sportsperson’s life.

13 What would be one mes- Songs on your playlist sage you would want to It’s always changing share with teenagers but for now aspiring to make a mark in sports? Blank Space by Taylor If you want to do some- Swift; Match in the Rain thing in sports then try by Alec Benjamin, Saawre different sports in your from Phantom and early years and then see Love you Zindagi from where your interest is and Dear Zindagi what ignites your passion. Just remember to work Favorite Biopics really hard and be honest Soorma, about that to yourself. MS Dhoni, Dangal If given a choice, Sachin Tendulkar or Abhinav Highlights of your career Bindra? Common Wealth Games, I would rather go with Youth Olympic Games & myself because nothing World Cup Final inspires me more than my heartbeat; just living; so I Learnings from your always look forward to game? myself. Dealing with failure, sportsmanship; 3 things you always carry in your kit/bag. not forgetting who you A diary, water bottle, are even if one day you earphones for sure! are standing at the top of a podium globally; Skills that a teenage adaptability sportsperson must have Being honest to oneself; Favorite places hard work, passion & I am obsessed with self-love! airports

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KNOW MORE From the Reader’s Pen The Hardest Challenge

Anika Agarwal is a class 8th student, studying in School of India, Bangalore. She has a keen interest in reading, drawing, and playing the keyboard. She also has her own blog which is a collection of book reviews she has written for the past several years. She has beautifully penned down her personal experiences and journey that she went through during this pandemic. To get on the roller coaster of emotions, read on.

Freaked out over the final exams Reading and revising and trying to cram Panic and pressure were in the air When something happened that was definitely rare.

A deadly virus was sweeping the world Everywhere fear was starting to unfurl Each day brought news of death The virus was snuffing out countless a breath.

Schools shut down, exams cancelled People forced inside, jobs abandoned Restless children, worried many an adult All of them forced to adjust.

From east to west The virus had swept Leaving the world waiting with bated breath For a cure to the seemingly unstoppable death.

16 Fast forward to a few months later Turns out that I’d become something of a debater I suppose the story is fairly long If you have time, buckle up and come along.

You see, I had become quite carefree Acting almost as though I were three Then I was shocked back to reality Abruptly and with quite a lot of brutality

The shock felt rather like a knuckle of brass Or in other words also known as online class However, that was only the tip of the iceberg Along with it came something far more absurd.

It turns out I had been recommended For an opportunity that was apparently splendid I was now taking part in a debate competition Despite my slightly vehement opposition

Now I was faced with what felt impossible Despite assurances that it was completely feasible I had to juggle homework, studies and debating Barely started and I was already suffocating.

A shy and reserved person by nature More tolerable would be an electric chair Stage fright did nothing to help All in all, not a pretty combination Did you finally see the reason for my vexation?

Debating itself to begin with was not a piece of cake

Doing it online was enough to give me a headache So much to remember; So much to do

17 Look at the camera, but don’t stare Look confident and be aware

Be loud but don’t shout Be confident and without a doubt Don’t start looking left and right and all around Or you’ll end up not too different from a clown

Yet despite my initial reservation I ended up having fun I learnt how to debate and not to fret All this without breaking into a sweat

I boast not, but I became a skilled organizer Something that made me all the more wiser I learnt how to keep up with my increasing workload Yet my studies I never allowed to be slowed.

Learning to balance work and fun Was one of the best things I’d ever done What I thought was going to be a disaster Just helped make me my own master.

One of the hardest challenges I’d ever done Showed me that I’d only just begun In such a terrible time of panic and worry with hardly any reasons to be merry

To me my achievement seemed to shine As brightly as the sun in all its prime.

Read Anika’s blog, here.

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COUNT KNOW I HAVE ME IN! MORE A DOUBT? Saga of Determination Sports Achievements

From grabbing the cricket World Cup trophy to being the undefeated Kabaddi champions, here are 12 memorable moments of Indian sports that you will love to relive!

World Cup Cricket, England, 1983 The Indians in this tournament showed that they had mastered the one-day game, bowling tightly, fielding better than any Indian team in the past, and never giving up. The Indian cricket team is two times World Champions. In addition to winning the 1983 Cricket World Cup, we triumphed over Sri Lanka in the 2011 Cricket World Cup on home soil with the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar lifting up the trophy in his last world cup. We also won the first T20 world cup in 2007.

20 First Commonwealth Games Gold, Milkha Singh The first Indian to grab gold at Commonwealth Games (CWG) was Milkha Singh. In 1958 CWG, he ran the fastest and achieved this remarkable feat in the 440 yards category. This initiated his dominance in sprinting and earned him the title “Flying Sikh”.

Men's singles semi-finals, 1960 Wimbledon At the tournament of the greatest, Wimbledon, Ramanathan Krishnan etched a victory that still goes untouched. He became the first and only Indian to reach the semi-finals of the Grand Slam of Tennis in 1960. He repeated this unprecedented triumph in 1961.

Olympic Gold Medal India’s first individual Olympic gold came with Abhinav Bindra winning in the 10 meters Air Rifle event in the 2008 Olympics. India’s account in the medal column in boxing was opened by Vijender Singh, also in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, who pulled off a Bronze.

21 Special Olympics 2019 The Special Olympians, dominated the World Games in Abu Dhabi in March 2019. With 368 medals, the Indian contingent went on to make a national record of such a massive haul proving their sportsman's spirit.

World Para Athletics Championships At the World Para Athletics Championships, India finished at 23rd spot with nine medals, including two gold and two silver - our best-ever finish at the World Para Championships.

1986 – P. T. Usha’s victory at Asian Games After winning four gold medals and one silver medal in the track and field events of the 1986 Asian Games, Usha was awarded the trophy for the Best Athlete in the world. Her victories made her a household name and brightened the prospects of female athletes in India.

First F1 driver from India India witnessed a new sports sensation in Narain Karthikeyan when this young racer became India’s first Formula One motor racing driver in 2009. After him, Karun Chandok too joined the sport, and their initial momentum, has an Indian F1 team.

22 In 1950, India qualified for the FIFA Golf balls have World Cup but withdrew due 336 Dimples on an to a lack of resources and average Aerodynamically, financial constraints. In he 1951 dimples between 300-500 & 1962 Asian Games, India allow the golf ball to travel even won the Gold Medal further in the air. in Football.

Each ring in the Olympic logo represents one of the five continents of the world and their colors represent the flags of every nation competing at the event.

Inspired by “Quidditch” game from Harry Potter, there The world record for is actually a Muggle the most consecutive Quidditch WOrld push-ups was set in 1980 Championship. by Minoru Yoshida from Ja an who managed to do 10,507 in a row.

In the beginning, tennis was played with bare hands. Indic Sports As a way of Life!

Much like art, sports are not time-bound. Many of the sports that might appear to be contemporary, have had their origins in ancient civilizations as a recreational entity but also as a way of learning life.

Since ancient times sports were part of a growing child’s life to hone their physical skills and competencies. They also ports have been extremely important in symbolizing human virtues such as commitment, dedication, awareness, empathy, and for- giveness.

India, being an ancient civilization has had games that have built social, moral, and cultural character of individuals and of the society. Many games today, played internationally, have their origin based in India. That gave the world sports like Kho-Kho, Chess, Carrom, and Martial Art forms like Kalaripayattu.

Following is the list of some of the games that India gave to the world of sports.

24 WRESTLING OR ‘ PEHLWANI’ Called back then as ‘Malla-Yuddha’, the sport has been practiced at least as early as the 5th millennium BC evident through an encyclopedia on the sport by the name Malla Purana. Developed in the 13th century, it was the modern wrestling’s precursor. Despite earlier being practiced by men, pehlwani today also finds many women in India championing the art of bodybuilding and wrestling. KABADDI The world-famous sport of Kabaddi was believed to have developed in the Vedic times. The sport was played fondly by the Yadavas, an ancient community residing on the western side of the country. Kabaddi is such a commoner today in India that every other street in its villages is filled with kids running and dusting themselves on the ground.

25 POLO Modern polo originated in British India in the 19th century, from Manipur, where the game was known as 'Sagol Kangjei', 'Kanjai-bazee', or 'Pulu'. The name "polo" is the anglicized version of the latter. The first polo club was established in Silchar, Assam, in 1833. The oldest polo club still in existence is the Calcutta Polo Club, which was established in 1862.

BADMINTON Although it had its origin in England, it is in India that the modern form of Badminton evolved. The game got its modern form in the garrison city of Poona in the 1860s. In fact, it was popularly known as ‘Poona‘ itself when it was played by the Britishers. The modern game of badminton has developed from an old children's game known in England as battledore and shuttlecock, a game popular in ancient India. The battle- dore was a paddle and the shuttlecock a small feathered cork, now usually called a "bird".

26 TRADITIONAL INDIAN GAMES India’s vast cultural expanse is a well-known world over. Yes, Indian streets are filled with children playing many traditional games. Sometimes as a way to engage for fun, sometimes to mark the festivals and sometimes to get along socially.

Gilli-Danda Lagori This is a sport Every child in India, no played by using one matter the region has small stick (gilli) and a large played this game. Famously stick (danda) like cricket, called as Pithu-Phod, Lagori with the ball replaced by and many other names in gilli. The game is among different parts of the the most popular play nation, the game is across the streets played with a ball. of India.

Kho-kho Kho kho is a tag sport played by teams of twelve players who try to avoid being touched by members of the opposing team, only nine players of the team enter the field. It is one of the two most popular Kite-flying traditional tag games The festival of played especially in Makar Sankranti that features kite-flying schools. competitions, is passion- ately followed more for the kite playing than for the ritual.

27 IGEN ROOTED AND FREE t n town talks

IN CONVO WITH

NUSHRAT BHARUCHA

Apple

Tune into the podcast HERE. Post COVID World Future Of Sports

Coronavirus has suspended almost all sports events across the globe. From a basic physical activity like jogging or gymming to international sporting events inside the stadium under the flood- lights, all of them have come to a standstill. Even as day to day activities start to limp back to new normalcy and people begin, it seems that most sports aren’t going to resume like before, at least for the coming future. With everything, from the 2020 Summer Olympics to Tour de France and the Indian Premier League (IPL) postponed, both ardent spectators and sports athletes have begun to absorb this shock.

Perhaps the most telling blow came when the Tokyo Olympics were postponed to the following year with no fixed date in sight. However, several Olympic aspirants from India, despite being disappointed, have taken this in a positive spirit- getting another year to prepare.

For us to go to a stadium or sports club will take a while, but there are some sports which have resumed without spectators.

Playing in front of empty stadiums is an idea that has been mooted by many since the onset of the pandemic, and it seems the only logical way to restart play while 'living with the virus'. For many sports enthusiasts to relive their cricket, football, and tennis matches, event producers have started to adopt remote production. Usually, earlier, when the IPL or Wimbledon took place, there were hundreds of professionals on-site with heavy equipment

29 and hardware to produce a match in high-quality video, but remote production allows broadcasters and content owners to remotely produce an event taking place thousands of miles away.

For example, if a cricket match is happening in New Delhi, the production and the broadcasting team could be in London. Hence virtual reality beyond the X-box games is what the sports industry also needs to look at and experiment with the new designs of presenting and playing games.

Many sportspersons have taken to social media with live interactions to stay relevant. This is also being looked at as an opportunity where more players from various sports can interact with the audience instead of attention being on the select few. But could virtual reality actually compensate for the sports experience and give a similar adrenaline rush or could some new rules be adopted maintaining the distance? The answers aren't ’ here yet but the sports industry will have to innovate as to how a new normal can be adopted for players and spectators. However, while we wait for uncertainty to unfurl, if anything, we hope to see some flying frisbees in the parks as they once used to do before.

30 Player on and off the field Yes Careers In Sports being a sportsperson is the obvious choice that is when one decides to play a sport profes- sionally. Even though it looks all fun & games, being a A“ player is a player; sportsperson requires a on or off the field.” thorough knowledge of the Sport is an essential part of life experiences and offers a plethora game, the rules, an of career opportunities. The only requirement other than a degree edge on physical in physical education (required in some career fields) is to be fitness and often physically fit, mentally active, passionate, and enthusiastic. Your following strict training passion for sport does not stand out only by being on the field but regimen and diet to be there are several ways of doing that. Here are a few roles to able to continue in this explore: area. Choosing a sport in itself offers a wide variety of choice . Presentation is extremely important in current times. With the popularity of sports gearing up, the focus on experimenting with the design, colors, and patterns of sportswear has also gained attraction. If you are more of an artist with an interest in design and sports, you can most certainly combine your two interests and ensure that the players of your favorite game are dressed in Sportwear the most eye-catchy manner. Designer 31 Sportsperson Yes being a sportsperson is the obvious choice that is when one decides to play a sport profes- sionally. Even though it looks all fun & games, being a sportsperson Refree/ requires a thorough Umpire knowledge of the game, the rules, an edge on physical fitness and often following strict training regimen and diet to be able to continue in this area. Choosing a sport in itself offers a wide variety of No game can choice . possibly be decisive if there is no umpire or referee in the game. An umpire or a referee aims to carry out a game in accordance with rules and regulations set by the concerned governing body. 32 Sports Be it the Presenter men in blue holding the world cup, the strong punch by Vijendra Singh, be it Saurav Ganguly taking off his shirt or Hima Das making it to the finish line, these golden memories can never come alive without the You might possess perfect capturing thorough wisdom and a keen Videos and interest in sports photos are the but might not be as life of the games enthusiastic or great in and if you know playing with the ball as to operate a you could be when it camera like the comes to playing with back of your ___words. hand and love With good being a communication spectator skills, you could be while a sports presenter capturing the (video or audio) or best of even a sports moments, journalist covering being a the games. camera person for Sports photos/ videos Camera could be your choice! 33 Person To be in sports doesn't necessarily mean to play, Coaching one can be actively in the industry without having to play. With a passionate heart and mindful hard work garnished with a sportsman spirit, one can Having knowledge of a game or achieve success in any of being physically fit is never the mentioned fields. There enough if the right are a lot of opportunities guidance is lacking. Not in this ever-growing field. everyone gets a chance to The key here is to be ready and start early. play but if you have the right knowledge Ready, GetSet, Go! about the game you could lead a team or player towards the path of Sports are a glory. History is full of lot about the examples about the physical aspect of role of a coach in one’s body as that making players and plays a major role in dedicated acade- being a mies for sports. sportsperson irrespective of the Consultants game. Consultants are a must to advise __individuals about ___+their health needs and specific training regimen. They also work in health clubs, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers. With more and more emphasis being laid on physical 34 fitness, nutritionists, etc. A Layer of Perspective Evolution and History

Sports have been a constant People were fond of swinging and significant part of human and a number of courtyard existence. Sports allow for games like" Hide and seek" the channeling of highly and "Run and catch" were energetic emotions and also played. generate the courage to embrace vulnerabilities. They not just imbibe within us the virtue of empathy but also teach us the bravery of forgiving our adversary.

The forms and manners of sports might have seen a shift with time but the history of sports in India goes back to the Vedic era and is believed to be as old as 8000 years. In early India, games were a lot about the development of the physique, the art of offense and defense as well as a kind of recreation.

From the time Indian Vedic history is recorded, the relationship between the Guru (teacher) and his student has been an integral part in the history of Indian sports.

35 The Mahabharata mentions games and gymnastics. Wrestling, playing with balls, hide and seek, chasing animals.

Great Universities like Takshila and Nalanda have a sports history too. Takhila was famous for military training, wrestling, archery and mountain-climbing. In Nalanda, swimming, breathing exercises and yoga formed an integral part of the curriculum.

Harshavardhana, of the Gupta dynasty was a great sportsman and Narasimha Mamallah, the Pallava ruler was a great wrestler. Archery was also popular among the women during this period, as can be seen from the Ahicchatra images. In Manasollasa, Someshwara writes at length about bharashram (weight lifting), bharamanshram (walking), and mall-stambha, a peculiar form of wrestling.

The Mughal emperors too were keen hunters of wild animals and avid

36 patrons of sports, especially that of cricket, but the wrestling. The Agra fort awareness about more and and the Red Fort were the more sports has constantly popular venues of many a expanded in the country as wrestling bout, in the times India gained a name in many of Emperor Shahjahan along international events. with an impressive range of sports activity and sports venues in the city during this period. From being looked at as a way of recreation and leisure, sports emerged as a mainstream profession with a variety of games to be explored.

With the conquest of British, At present apart from came the great game of participating in championships Cricket. The entire history at a global level across of cricket in India and the different sports, India has sub-continent as a whole is also seen the coming of based on the existence and various leagues of its own development of the British like the Indian Premier League Raj via the East India (IPL) for cricket, Indian Super Company. Post-independence League (ISL) for Football and India also witnessed an the Pro-Kabaddi League which emergence of sports like has provided a platform to Football, Hockey, Athletics. showcase their talent with a The mass appeal might not promising future of India’s have reached as much as sports talent.

37 NATIONAL SPORTS DAY

38 Thank Us Later Binge into the Action!

We all know cinema and cricket (read sports) have people’s hearts in India and attract a large viewership.When sports combine with cinema, we get drama, action, emotions, and inspiration, information all packed in one. A sports popularity in India is in direct proportion to the films made in India, to quite an extent. There was a time when only cricket ruled people's hearts but a wave of films that showcased the stories of sportsmen from other sports woke the audience to reality. These Indian films gave us a glimpse of the treasure India had and has.

Here are some of our favourites:

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5 Letters of the Past The Baseball Season

“ It would be best for the country to keep baseball going. ”

On 7 December 1941, the Japanese Navy carried out a devastating attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, and ultimately sealed the Americans’ partic- ipation in World War II. Just a month later, Kenesaw Landis, the then Commis- sioner of Baseball in the U.S, asked Pres- ident Roosevelt whether the upcoming baseball season should be called off in the light of current events as the entire nation was engaged in the war.

Roosevelt replied with the letter. He wrote, “ I honestly feel that it would be best for the country to keep baseball going. There will be fewer people unem- ployed and everybody will work longer hours and harder than ever before. And that means that they ought to have a chance for recreation and for taking their minds off their work even more than before.”

Transcript follows.

41 42 Be it the men in blue holding the world cup, the strong punch by Vijendra Singh, be it Saurav Ganguly taking off his shirt or Hima Das making it to the finish line, these golden memories can never come alive without the You might possess perfect capturing thorough wisdom and a keen Videos and interest in sports photos are the but might not be as life of the games enthusiastic or great in and if you know playing with the ball as to operate a you could be when it camera like the comes to playing with back of your ___words. hand and love With good being a communication spectator skills, you could be while a sports presenter capturing the (video or audio) or best of even a sports moments, journalist covering being a the games. camera person for photos/ videos could be your choice!

This Day, That Year First Olympic Gold Medal

what when Independent India’s First August 12, Olympic Gold Medal 1948

August 12, will always have a special place in India's sporting history as on this day in 1948 India won its first-ever gold medal at the Olympics as an independent nation.

Before this historic triumph, India had won three gold medals at the Olympics in hockey (1928, 1932, and 1936) but all of them came under the rule of the British empire.

In their Olympic campaign in 1948, India had beaten Argentina 9-1 and Austria 8-0 before beating Spain 2-0 in the league stage. They went on to beat the Netherlands in the semi-finals by 2-1 followed by another ruthless perfomance in the final by defeating Great Britain with 4-0. Prior to the tournament, the British had reportedly refused to play against India as they once ruled them.

Balbir Singh, who made his Olympics debut in the same edition, stole the show with his impeccable performance throughout the tournament. Almost one year after India’s independence, the team gifted a golden victory to the nation.

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45 #Teenspiration The Unheard Victory

DIKSHA DAGAR, 19 Life offers challenges in some way or the other to everyone but scripting your own unique story despite that, is always a choice. Such is the case of the 19-year-old Indian golfer Diksha Dagar, who wrote her own piece of history as she became the youngest Indian woman to win on the famed Ladies European Tour (LET).

Diksha was born with a hearing impairment but being deaf could not be a hindrance to her spirit and passion.

Playing at India’s biggest women’s pro event, the Hero Women’s Indian Open in 2016, Diksha made her first appearance, and the then 15-year-old from Haryana made the cut and finished as the top amateur. Diksha’s father, Col. Narinder Dagar has been her active support, starting her coaching at the age of six.

She also earned the silver for India at the Deaflympics in Turkey in 2017. She dominated the Junior circuit and the Ladies circuit. She won a Women’s Golf Association of India pro event while being an amateur. Having been an amateur, Diksha won a Women’s Golf Association of India pro event. She also represented India at the Queen Sirikit Cup event to win the Singapore Open in 2018 and donned India colors at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. She also emerged victorious in the Investec Women’s South African Open in Capetown. She now plays with a cochlear implant that helps her to hear at close-to-normal levels.

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ISSUE #09 | THANK YOU! | AUG’20

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