Play to win.

When I started staying and studying in REC campus from 1997-2000, I used to play cricket and some considered that I was a 'better' player. I never gave my best when I thought other guys, rather classmates were not 'serious' enough. One of the better 'players' told them in clear words that he expects them to play seriously, but he was advised not to be 'serious'. Of course, I always considered him very good in sports and infact he had a very very positive approach to life itself. I still remember his reply to them on that day - yes, we play for fun, but PLAY TO WIN, buddy. I realised that later he was good not in just cricket, but badminton, table tennis, volleyball and football. He was a real sportsman and even participated in inter-district competitions. In our final year, it was a pity that I was able to reach the finals of table tennis competition, while he lost in the other semifinals. Of course, in doubles, we played as a team and won comfortably. I actually dont mind losing as long as I lost it to some one better. Infact, during the singles semifinals, one junior was feverishly supported by many girls and his face seemed to become very tense. I won the first set and was just 5 points short of victory, when I actually left it free for him to win. Winning that match didnt seem important to me. Losing it was probably more important.

As long as there is a good contest, winning losing does not matter. First test between Sri Lanka and India ended in an insipid draw with obviously the pitch getting all the flak. India is not at all a country for sports, because there is no sporting culture in the first place. If there is any scope ONLY for INDIVIDUAL, then there may be winners like Viswanathan Anand in chess, though I feel that even chess has become very prescriptive with textbook openings - Ruy Lopez Opening, Scotch move etc. With such a big focus on 'individual', of course India will achieve lot of records - batsmen with highest number of runs, centuries etc, and the fact that number of victories is abysmal being 'covered up', if not ignored. I would hope that people see all 'achievement's in perspective that India has played host to the highest proportion of drawn test matches. Even the match at Motera could have been turned into a possibly exciting one like the exciting draw between Australia and New Zealand after sporting declarations in Brisbane test. That is the risk Indians dont want to take even in sports. Rather to put in a 'colonial' ring, that is the risk sub-continent teams dont take in sports.