Lessons from sport

The drive, the desire the motivation the aspiration to push on. The heat, the sweat immaterial, nonexistent. Seconds before a shot, silence, as the racket draws closer to the ball, every moment lasting forever as if in slow -motion. The key to unlock sport as Rafael Nadal unlocked tennis, as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo unlocked soccer — desire. The want, the drive to push through every obstacle to the finish line, the competitive spirit to fight for every last point, every goal, no matter if in the end you win or lose. The sportsmanship, to congratulate the other on their victory even if you think you should have won, even if your heart fills with bitter animosity, to smile heartily and shrug it off, determined to do better. The knowledge that every match is a clean slate, not to add another trophy to a brimming cupboard, but to have fun and enjoy the journey, the process. And the determination to fight till the last minute, to never give up, no matter if the chances are you will lose. These values, these are the true gems in the crown of football greats, of tennis legends. And these are values we all have to learn, for they unlock sport just as they unlock everything else in life. We all have to understand the importance that sport plays in our life, and in the life our society. The reason that people stay up till one in the morning to watch football matches, or go crazy over a sixes in cricket. Sport is a part of our life and our society, but many of us do not appreciate it. So all of us need to get out there, and pick up a racket, a ball, or a bat, and start playing. That’s what I learnt from a 30 – second slow-motion video , from my parents my teachers and most importantly sport, in the form of a game of tennis. So I encourage you, go out, play a match of any game, with anyone, just like I did. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose (I lost), it doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to play properly. Just go out there with a smile on your face and do your best. Forget the rest. Then only can we appreciate sport, truly.

Seconds before a shot, silence, as the racket draws closer to the ball, every moment lasting forever as if in slow -motion.