In sports, it is said that the game isn’t over until the final whistle is blown! When we watch an IPL or an international game of cricket, we believe that a Dhoni or a Kohli can win the game even with 30 runs to be scored in the last over. This is because we have seen them do it before and know that such a thing is possible! In this week’s Monday Truclusions, I want to share with you all some stories that talk about how turning points are always around the corner! Since it’s FIFA time now, let me give you another example, one that’s football related.
It’s Only Half Time!
A couple of weeks ago I read a Whatsapp message, sent by former MD of ANZ, Mr. Ravichandran Venkatraman. It spoke about a very interesting story, which goes like this –
Recently Mr. Venkatraman went on his usual morning jog, where he passed by a playground where a group of boys were playing a game of football. At the last second of halftime, just when the referee blew the whistle, one of the boys kicked the ball wide out of the ground in the gallery of steps where the audience sits.
Mr. Venkatraman was sitting in the gallery and he threw the ball back to the boy and asked him what the score was? The boy smiled back and replied 2-0; the opposition were leading 2 goals to nil. Mr. Venkatraman was kind of intrigued, and asked him, “How can you be so cool when your team is behind the opposition by two goals; aren’t you nervous?”
The boy smiled again and replied, “Why should I be nervous sir? It is just half time and the game isn’t over till the referee blows the full time whistle. I am sure by the time the referee blows the full time whistle my team will be a goal ahead!”
Mr. Venkatraman was curious enough and sat there to watch the rest of the match. The boy was indeed right; the game ended at a score of 4-3 in favour of the boy’s team. He turned to Mr. Venkatraman as he left and smiled at him with a twinkle in his eyes!
A Series Of Losses & Wins!
Another story I want to tell you is an advertisement I watch often on the television and get inspired each time I watch it. The ad is about a cleansing agent, but that’s not what inspires me. It’s the story line that does!
A coach tells his junior cricket team that he is going to quit as coach, because he is disappointed by the poor performance of the team. The kids say that they would try harder going forward and request the coach not to quit, but in-vain!
When the coach begins to leave, one of the kids begins to damage the stumps, nets and the pitch itself. In the process the kid’s clothes get dirty. Seeing the boy damaging the ground and the cricket gear, the coach comes running and asks the boy why he’s damaging the ground? The boy responds by asking him what’s the point of all these things if their team is not going to play anymore!
The coach then says that the latest match they lost wasn’t the last game the team would ever play! There are many more matches to come. The kid responds to the coach saying if that’s the case, then they need their coach too and that he should continue to coach them. Who knows instead of losing all matches, they might start winning them all soon!
The point I am trying to make through these stories is that sometimes the stains of losses are important as they teach one the importance and the value of winning and not quitting!
Shankar Sajjan – Giving Up Is Never An Option
Now let me give you a real life example of a true fighter, who despite the odds stacked against him, never gave up! He has managed to carve his own destiny as per his wish. This teenage kid did not lose hope and leave the play ground of life before the final whistle was blown. Instead he stood his ground with all the grit he had.
A true champion in his own right, “Shankar Sajjan” Shankar is a cricket fanatic who loved the game so much that he wanted to emulate his role model, Anil Kumble – the highest wicket taker in Indian history!
Today Shankar is one among the 21 special talents chosen out of 3000 people who tried to clear the “Spinstar” contest, a chance to be trained by the master himself! But Shankar’s journey to the training ground set by Kumble’s talent hunt company “Tenwic” was everything but easy.
Born with a chromosomal imbalance, Shankar was affected by deformed hands. If that was not enough trouble, he lost his mother at the tender age of two. Helped by his uncle, Shankar continued his studies, but the coaches in Bijapur sent him back when he went to them to learn leg-spin bowling.
But the boy did not give up. He chased his dreams and when he learnt that “Tenwic” is organizing a camp, he couldn’t resist coming to Bangalore to test his skills in front of his role model.
Shankar says he had to spend a week at the stadium because of lack of money. Finally after being selected among the top 21, Jumbo as Anil is fondly known, said he was happy that he could find Shankar’s special skill. And he was happier that he could give Shankar a much-deserved opportunity. Jumbo appreciated Shankar’s grit and determination, and his passion for the game.
Now Shankar has been training at “Tenwic” and has also bowled to the recently visiting Afghanistan cricket team as part of his training!
Food For Thought
Shankar has been able to achieve this because he did not call off the game before the final whistle was blown. Would your life be different if you hadn’t called the game off before the final whistle? Think about those opportune moments!
Liked reading this? Then you might also like to read Monday Truclusions – Why Laughing On Ourselves Can Be An Important Life Lesson
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