Eight years ago, I visited this city, at that time, I did not like it much as it was very crowded as well as having language problem etc. Last year again, I came back to this city, this time not for visit only, I came here with the mind to settle down. My family and friends back in the city where I were staying were reluctant. But I was firm to come and settle here.
Many people may ask that what is good in this city, I have long list. If you are food lover, this city is for you, if you want to own your house in reasonable price, this city is for you, if you are into Information Technology, this city is for you, if you want to excel in studies, this city is for you, if you want to start your own venture, this city is for you, if you want your women safe, this city is for you. But I like the most, if you want to take Sports as a profession, this is the only city in India. This is the biggest reason, I came here.
You know that if anyone wants to play sports as profession, that person is very much criticized in the society, family, friends etc. But Hyderabad is the only city in India where people around you, will encourage. If you take the example of current sports persons representing India in world, the list is very long. If you take example of Badminton, only Hyderabad produced world-class players, Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Srikanth Kidambi, Parupalli Kashyap. If you take example of cricket, Mithali Raj, Very Very Special Laxman etc. If you take example of Tennis, Sania Mirza, an only Muslim girl represented India. The list is very long for other sports too. They are not only representing India, they are winning medals in world stage too. PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal won Olympic Medals in 2016 and 2012 respectively. Sania Mirza almost won medal in 2016. Mithali Raj made Women Cricket Team to World Cup finals twice and highest run scorer among all women cricket players across the world. I am not saying that sports persons are not coming from other parts of the country but Hyderabad Sports persons either get best trainers or zeal, which in result made them winners in world stage and made country proud.
I came here for the same dream, Sports. I would like my son to excel in sports and win Olympic medal(s) for India. He is very young and already his training started. If we start teaching academics at the age of three or four years to have them white color job at the age of 21, then why not we should start their sports training at the same age to excel in sports. If you take sports as your profession, it will not only make you fit, it will give you name, fame and now money too. And the biggest reason is that you can serve your country and make it proud in world stage.
I am fortunate that I got the chance to come in this city which is “Sports Capital of the Country”, Hyderabad.
This is very common mentality that women should be under shelter of men. The society is like that. Although this thinking is changing slightly but there is still one religion where the condition of women is not that good. They are just house worker or baby delivering machine. They are getting married by the age of 18-20 years. They are not allowed to think about their aspirations. They are not allowed to wear clothes of their choices. They are not allowed to go out without covering their head or face. In this situation, a woman thinks to make her career in sports, is this possible? Answer would be BIG NO. Are you crazy?
But we have one daring woman in our country who made this possible. Who undergone lot of criticism but we are thankful to her family who stand by her side in all situations. She has chosen that sports which no other woman in our country can think of. If you ask Muslim girl, it would be impossible. She selected ‘TENNIS‘ and became number one player of the country because she is the only one from country. She was criticized for her dress, her physical architecture, people made her morphed photos. Nobody appreciated her game. I am also from that culprit who did not like her, but after seeing her game, I became a fan of her game.
Sania Mirza, she is the lady who made our country proud in Tennis. Why she was able to do that because she belongs to the Sports City of India, Hyderabad. I see that Muslim families from this city are more advanced compare to other parts of country. I see ladies are going out, doing job, playing sports from this community but why no other Muslim girl is in sports. Because still ladies or their families are not that much strong enough to face the criticism from the care takers of this community. You might heard of issuing Fatwa to Sania Mirza and her family for wearing skirt. Few people are saying that she belongs to our neighbor country because she married to sportsperson of neighbor country. There might be a scenario that she did not get person from our own country or she has been put into condition where she had to sacrifice her first love “Tennis”. Today she is playing for India and making our country proud. She is among the top 50 women players in Tennis. She won a lot of Grand Slams in Doubles.Today she is the best in doubles. She almost won Olympic medal for country in Rio Olympics. People threw stones on her but she took it as tennis ball and faced it with her back hand and forward hand strokes, and able to win all.
We should proud on this lady, Sania Mirza, who should be idol of every Muslim girl. Her family should receive kudos from world who took courage to put their daughter in sports. Today she is one of the most respected person in Sports World.
I am also fan of you, Sania Mirza. Keep playing and make our country proud.
Cricket, this is the one sport which I live for. I usually connect with this sport in any form, if not able to play, I watch, if not able to watch, read. Cricket is all over in my mind and heart. I started following Women Cricket since 2007 through Cricinfo, but always wanted to see these players live, this desire fulfilled in 2009 when Women World Cup first time televised. I saw Jhulan (highest wicket taker), Mithali (highest run getter) first time. I started enjoying watching them. I enjoyed cricket with beauty. Yes, these players are very beautiful. I remember, I started searching EA Perry, an Australian all-rounder. She was very young by that time but extremely beautiful, still the same. I started following their rankings, stats and amazed to see that out of Ten, four were Indians in Top 10 Batters, Jhulan was always there in Top 10 bowlers list. I felt proud because this is not the case with Men’s Cricket.
Women World Cup 2017, I think this is the time when ICC decided to uplift the game, it was televised and marketed well. WomenInBlue responded very well as well, they started winning match by match. Started the tournament by beating mighty England, then West Indies. But people started praising India when they beat Pakistan, against which we never want to lose. Although in Ranking India was way ahead of Pakistan, but as we lost Champions Trophy against Pakistan in Men Cricket, so winning against them was very soothing. Then we beat Srilanka. But there was no buzz. India lost winning streak against South Africa, an underdog of this tournament. Very few people would know about it that SA captain D van Niekerk is the only player among Men or Women Cricket who has figure of 4/0 (4 wickets without conceding a single run).
Then we have match against Australia, 6 times world champions, we lost very badly. The chances of progressing further of #WomenInBlue was shaken. To proceed we have to beat New Zealand. A mighty one in #WomenCricket. Mithali Raj took the responsibility on her shoulder as always and took India to a big score. Then RS Gayakwad sealed the win by taking five for. We won it by 186 runs, a biggest win ever for us. We were in Semifinals against mighty Australians. I was afraid we might lose, but I know if India played with their potential they could beat them. I bet with one of my friend of my optimism.
I know Australians are beaten by Punjabi so far. If you take a look in history of Men’s Cricket, Australians have been beaten by Yuvraaj Singh in 2007, 2011 world cups, their 16 tests winning streak broken by Harbhajan Singh. in #WomenCricket Harmanpreet Kaur, a great fan of most destructive batsman,Virender Sehwag, took the responsibility, crushed the bowling of Australians and made 171*. Posted highest score of India in worldcup. We won by 36 runs. we are into World Cup Finals. I started dreaming of ,Mithali holding world cup in her hand and revolution in Women cricket is just one match away.
England is the side which we already beaten but one thing to be noticed that they picked up the momentum and did not lose a single match after that. Whenever they batted first, they posted total which is beyond reach of opposition. 377 against Pakistan, 373 against South Africa (a very good bowling unit). I was afraid if they bat first they might post total more than 300 but kudos to Jhulan, supported by PoonamRaut, Deepti. We restricted them at the score of 228. But I know that this is WorldCup final, the match can be won with 200, they had 28 runs extra. The responsibility of batters were more. We proceed well also after losing Smriti (disappointed me a lot after raising expectation) and Mithali (Biggest wicket, like Suicide), Punam and Harman played cautiously and I was thinking we are in home for sure. The score is 197/3 in 44 overs. Punam and Veda were batting. I don’t think that any team would lose from that position but the most challenging part that these girls were playing World cup final first time. Nervousness was building, wanted to win as soon as possible, we started loosing wickets. score became 200/7. I thought we lose but then Shikha and Deepti scored few runs, we were cruising to win and left with just 15 runs and suddenly what happened, Shikha ran for suicidal run and left Deepti to take home. She is very young to bear this huge pressure as she is only 19 years old, Saharanpur girl. We lost by 9 runs.
But what a fight India gave to England, it won the heart of Indians. First time I saw that Indians heart was beating for WomenInBlue. I have seen these girls cried many times but first time I saw whole India was crying for you.
Since childhood we are listening from our Parents and elders that “Padhoge Likhoge to banoge nawab, kheloge kudoge to hoge kharab” ,Study will make you rich, Playing will spoil you. In movie MS Dhoni – An Untold Story reversed this through this song.
There are many parts of country where child decides to make Sports as a profession, he must be criticized. In India Sports is just hobby or the way to make yourself fit, not more than that. But then too few are decided to make it profession but there are following challenges
Convince Parents: This is the biggest hurdle in Indian society. Parents always want their kids to become Doctor, Engineer, Lawyer, CA etc but not a sportsperson. I remember when I was in class 9th, I wanted to become cricketer in 2000 but my father wanted me to make career in some white color job. He asked me just one thing how many player are there in Indian Team from our state (UP), the answer was NO.
There were many players in cricket who played 15+ years for State but never got chance, Ashish Viston Zaidi, highest wicket taker in Ranji, but never get selected in Indian Cricket Team. And there was lot of state biased selection at that time. Now time is changing parents are trying their kid to become Sachin Tendulkar but not in other sports, Why? But knowing the challenge in this field they always put study in priority.
Money Factor: Lets say you are able to convince your parents or they wanted you to be in sports. Parents always put their kids in that kind of sports where lot of money is there. So Cricket is always first choice.
I was just thinking that Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Have they started playing cricket to become rich, the answer should be NO, they wanted to play for country and make India proud. They are passionate about cricket, I think if you ask Sachin to bat 24 hours without food, he would do that because he was passionate about batting. Yes he is multi billionaire but he never run after that, money ran after him. How?
Competition Factor: The easiest way to earn is study and get job, rest all other fields have a lot of competition. Lets say if you want to play cricket for country, there is high possibility that you won’t get chance because there are only 15 players selected in the team and usually they don’t leave the team. Now answer is why not other sports, the reason is clear ,“Money Factor”. Cricketers are like celebrity in India, Media is following them like “Ants behind Sweets” whatever they are doing, is in news, which movie they are watching, with whom they are shopping, which girl they are dating etc. that is why they have a lot of ads. but in other sports this is not the condition. Once the event is over, nobody care about the game.
I remember during Olympics everybody was talking about prospects of medals. We won 3 medals in Olympics that is also because of our powerful girls, PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik. People were proud about that, but I felt shame on our Country. We are 1.3 Billions and won 3 medals (1 Silver, 2 Bronze). In Olympics, 206 countries participate and in Cricket World Cup,12 countries. So the insult is much more over there. We are famous for Technology, Literature, Science, Medical around the world but what is our image in Sports, we only know how to play cricket. Why?
Support Factor: The other biggest reason is support factor in India for sports. In Cricket BCCI is separate organization and spends/earns lot of money but in other sports the condition is much worst. Abhinav Bindra won Olympics Gold Medal in 2008 because of his father not because of support from our country. It’s insane that many of our National players struggled for support in big events. In recent Olympics, one of our Player fainted in Marathon because no one was there to give her water.
We are thankful to few rich people of country who are investing in sports now and get Support factor from outside. Mukesh Ambani supported cricket in IPL (which at least saved the future of cricketers), Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Gangulypromoted Football, to provide platform and support to Football players. Abhishek Bachhan promoted Kabaddi and Aamir Khan is promoting Table Tennis. Yes these are the people who are giving back to sports what they got from it but how long?
Career after Sports: Usually Sportsperson has career max 30-35 years depends on sports he/she plays. Now what after that because life never stops there. what kind of profession he will choose, either dependent on the job offered by Govt (Very Few), or do business of something. There was one movie came sometime back “Paan Singh Tomar” starred Irfan Khan, That movie really ask questions about the future of sportsperson in India.
People may blame Government for this but I will blame people of our country. If they put their kids in sports other than cricket, and get professional coaching from them their future will automatically secure. Government can not give job to everyone its responsibility of us to take care of our sportsperson who made our country proud. In India, if you are Teacher by profession you can easily survive on your own but if you are sportsperson you can’t. Why?
Non-mandatory Curriculum :In school sports is never be a priority. School is known by its academic results not by sports. Now a days few schools are trying to make students to play at least one sports but that is non-mandatory curriculum.
Means if student doesn’t perform in sports its okay but if he doesn’t perform in academics he is not allowed to proceed in next standard. Shouldn’t be sports examination there and if kid is not able to perform then he should not proceed? Shouldn’t we make sports mandatory in all schools like other subjects? Shouldn’t we send our kids for professional sports coaching after school like academics. Why playing sports important only during summers?
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Interest Factor: We have interest only in those sports which we ever played or know the rules. I don’t think anyone in India is there who do not know the rules of Cricket but it is not the same for other sports. I myself played 10+ sports and watch all games in Olympics except Golf. If you ask anyone to watch hockey match that person won’t, in fact if you ask anyone to name hockey players, people would failed to do that but in cricket they can tell you players of three generations.
During any big events of other sports, interest built but vanish as soon as it get over. Olympics also comes once in four years but we watch other sports only during Olympics, why not the same with Cricket. The reason is BUZZ created by media for men’s cricket, which is not there for other sports including women cricket too. Have you seen “Mauka Mauka” advertisements?
I feel like that if we make sports as mandatory like other subjects in all schools it will be fruitful in many ways, we will take care of our sportsperson and win more medals in Olympics. Lets target at least 10 medals in Olympics 2020.
I am a sports lover so whoever makes my country proud by winning medal or title, I feel good. I have seen that perspective of our own country towards Man and Woman in sports is entirely different. When Sachin Tendulkar made 100th century, everywhere people were talking about Sachin, but when Women cricketer Mithali Raj made highest runs in women cricket, no post or very few. She is captain of Indian Women cricket team and representing India in World cup. Roger Federer won Wimbledon title, my Facebook was filled with his achievements, just before one day India reached Semifinal of world cup but did not see any posts related to that in my Facebook wall. Isn’t it double standard of people who talk about their love for India?
I don’t know that people know about it or not but taking Sports as a profession in India, a woman does a lot of sacrifices. I don’t know any woman in Indian Cricket team married but in Men cricket most of the cricketers get married at right age. Because after marriage their sports doesn’t affected, they do not fear whether his wife or in-laws will let him play or not. But women do have that fear that is why they don’t want to get married. Mithali Raj is real example of that. She started her career in 1999 at the age of 16 now she is 34 unmarried. Very few men in the country want their wife as sportsperson. Yeah they may want their wife to be a beautician or an Actress but not Sportsperson. Why?
Women who are in sports today only because their parents supported. Don’t know any woman who became sportsperson without their parents support.Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu (Badminton Legends), Sania Mirza (Only Woman Tennis Player) , all women cricketers are example of that, But in the case of Man so many examples are there. MS Dhoni is one of them. A woman can not leave home to live her dreams because then she needs to fight with cruel male dominating society to protect herself from lustful eyes. In my college there was one phrase boys used “Akeli ladki open invitation hoti hai, turant accept karo” (Alone girl is open invitation, Grab it without fear). People in India always make their Idol who are Male why not female. There was interview of Mithali before world cup and reporter asked who is your favorite male cricketer, she answered beautifully , Said “Have you ever asked any male cricketer that who is their favorite Woman Cricketer.” Wonderful reply. How many ads Mithali is having compare to Virat Kohli? Both are Captain of Indian Cricket Team. A question to be asked?
I am cheering for Indian Women Cricket Team in World cup, ARE YOU???
