Need for sports - By Eshwar Bandi, 2014 TFI Fellow

I do not know how many of you watched the cricket match between India and Bangladesh yesterday in the T20 world cup. Agreed it was a nail biting finish but seldom was a match with Bangladesh so hyped – even in an ICC event. This particular cricketing rivalry is an infant, and it has unfolded in front of our eyes, Just over a month ago when a photo shopped decapitated head of Dhoni was found in the hands of a ferocious looking bowler of Bangladesh. All this points to the direction we are headed, where emotions overrun intellect and logic, hating the opposition is the only way to show loyalty and most importantly, winning at any cost, winning ugly over playing joyfully!

It is in this context that I would like to say to all the participants and fellow sports enthusiast in NFS that this event being organised for the Kids is not to foster their academic growth by linking it to sports, not to build their confidence by putting them in front of a crowd, and another big “NOT” to so many other untold reasons – although they are mere by-products of this engagement. This event is for kids (and adults alike) to have fun and experience the innocence of victory, humbleness of defeat and irrelevance of glory. We urge the fellows not to bring in the kids merely to win but to engage themselves with a larger audience and learn a thing or two, joyfully. Competitions are mere platforms to showcase and we do not want Sports to be mere spectators in these events!

Thanks in advance for obliging to this request.