PROFESSIONAL VS PERSONAL LIFE- A SPORTSPERSON’S DILEMMA.
Losing a loved one can be an irreplaceable loss, an irreparable damage, an unfathomable experience. Professional sports personalities devote their entire lives into doing what they do. They are the ultimate goal-driven individuals and sweat their minds and bodies out- not because they don’t have a choice but because they love what they do and are extremely passionate competitors. That said, none of their lives are as perfect as it may seem on the outside. They all have their own personal difficulties and tragedies to deal with. But when and where do we draw a line between having the desire to fight it out for your country and needing to slug it out through personal trauma? Do we really expect these individuals to go out on the field and battle it out in the midst of the huge personal battle? Maybe we as fans ourselves overlook the toils of athletes and undermine what they have gone through in the past and are going through in the present to be where they are!
A sport is life’s biggest teacher. It provides a broader perspective to life and takes us through an emotional juggernaut with all the highs and lows. Sometimes, we fail to take the word ‘sacrifice’ seriously enough. Everyone is out there sacrificing something and battling some inner demons, sportsmen and sportswomen more than most. As American journalist Kevin Blackistone once famously said, “When athletes play through the pain of tragedy and losing a loved one, it shows their humanity.” Playing and pushing yourself through the pain takes immense willpower and courage, but so does choosing not to play during a tragic time, when you want to be out there on the field at all times.
Mohammed Siraj, one of the gems that India discovered during the historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020, was unable to return back from Australia at the time due to the Covid-19 protocol upon losing his father. Siraj’s father Mohammed Ghouse, who was an auto driver back then, played a pivotal role in his son’s initial developments as a cricketer and always encouraged his young hero to pursue his dreams. Mandeep Singh was in fine form during the 2020 edition of the IPL before he was hit with the shocking news of his father’s death. Since he could not return back from UAE, he proved his quality and mettle with the bat by dedicating a match-winning half century to his father. Even the Indian captain Virat Kohli, whom we all recognise as one of the greatest batsman of this generation, has had a tough journey on his path to success. Way back in 2006, Kohli was playing a Ranji Trophy game for Delhi when he was informed about the sad demise of his father. He had the option of returning back home, but instead he chose to play the game for his state and even scored a match-saving 90 for his side. These are just a couple of hand-picked stories out of the thousands.
It is so important to draw inspiration from the stories of such champions. Not from their trauma, but from their immense mental strength, willpower and heart. We all face setbacks, but the definitive part is how we fight back or come back. Help each other out and be there for whoever you can, as deep down we are all reeling in some way or the other. Spend time with the ones that matter the most to you and have fun, you never know how many more memories you can create. The times are dreary, but we all have to get through it together and look for the silver lining. Take your time to recover from a setback, but do not feel the need to do it alone. Stay nice, stay positive, stay healthy, stay safe and keep fighting. We are all in this together!
