A sports clipping a day keeps COVID stress away

The lockdown has thrown life out of gear as one has to be closeted at home 24*7.  There is a barrage of information flowing all along on the COVID-19 situation. Newspapers, news channels and social media are stuck on only the virus from the past one month. Where can anybody find respite in such times of anxiety, fear and gloom?

Many have found solace through the streaming platforms; some have rekindled their interest in reading and a few other hobbies. But one of the most therapeutic remedies in this lockdown is watching highlights of sports. Whether it is a team game or individual one, the efforts, perseverance, skill and finesse the great sportspersons of the world display is a lesson for these times.

Indian cricket aficionados can never forget the epic Kolkata test match against an invincible Australian side in 2001.  Following on, with all hope lost, the turnaround that was witnessed by the heroics of two men Laxman and Dravid with their never say die spirit propelled the whole team and snatched victory from the jaws of certain defeat. Watching the highlights of this match not only took me back by almost twenty years for an hour, but also lighted up my spirits, hope and optimism.

A sport, in its finest form, is a cathartic experience. It reaches higher planes when a few men with extraordinary capabilities and talent use the holy grail of sports to produce an exquisite exhibition of their mastery. 

When the masters are at work, one can find only unbridled joy. Regardless of whatever circumstances, a spectacularly delightful Tendulkar straight drive or the dazzlingly artistic shots of Federer, bring an instant smile to the face and pleasure for the heart.

Sport,in a way, mirrors life. No matter what the scoreboard in any game, every match is a new match, a new opportunity to take up the sword again and fight. Rankings, past records and statistics can never take precedence over the actual performance on the D day because the scorecard always starts with a zero. 

The great sporstmen etched a named for themselves not just through their skill, but also through their mental fortitude in not accepting any challenge as a dead end.

Every challenge, for them, is an opportunity to prove their detractors wrong. They fight through the daunting situations, keep up their resilience even though the opponent is pushing them to a corner, chipping away, biding their time until the tide turns and in one masterstroke shock the opponent, leaving even the spectators awestruck. 

Cricket junkies would remember the remarkable innings of the great Sachin Tendulkar in Sydney where he made an unbeaten 241. It was a remarkable innings, not for the usual flair, flamboyance and showmanship that is usually associated with his knocks, but for the doggedness and steely adamance that he displayed. As he was getting dismissed trying to drive on the off side on numerous occasions in the preceding tests, he absolutely cut off his entire repertoire of shots on the off side in the whole inings! 

This was the discipline on display of a master who could hit to any part of the ground at will. Sports teaches us such invaluable lessons, if one has an observing mind.

It is this very steely resolve and discipline that is required in today's health crisis. Watching these old sports videos not only makes us relive those memories again and relieves the stress induced by the constant breaking news and updates, but also makes us imbibe those qualities exhibited by our sporting heroes.

These wizards and the great sporting moments that dot our history are aplenty. Spending some time every day rewinding to those unforgettable sporting moments and savouring the class of the geniuses would certainly be a worthwhile addition to your schedule in this period.

An old proverb said "An apple a day keeps the doctor away". 

Cut to the new times, "A sports video a day keeps corona tension away! "