Watching Petra Kvitova play against Sharapova in the finals of Wimbledon 2011, reminded me of the historical rivalry between the two legendary players of women’s Tennis – Martina Navratilova & Chris Evert.
Kvitova enchants us with her simplicity, shy smile, calm and composed demeanour. Her tennis is embellished with power, purpose, and perseverance. Sharapova’s beauty goes beyond her long legs, ear-rings, blonde hair and high shrieks. Her tennis is engaged with a silken movement and precision. Like Martina, Kvitova is also a southpaw, while Sharapova, like Evert, plays with both hands. Perhaps it is too early to foretell whether Kvitova and Sharapova may compete often as the two legends. Personally I would prefer the gorgeous and effervescent German Sabine Lisicki play against the unassuming and disciplined Kvitova in future.
The platinum blonde, Navratilova, aptly watching from the Royal box, looked stunning, her high cheekbones giving her a graceful and regal bearing with time. Admiring her compatriot Kvitova’s accomplishment, she must have probably felt nostalgic and overwhelmed with joy
Few rivalries in sports were as fiercely contested as that of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Mohammed Ali fought Frazier 3 times, Borg faced McEnroe 14 times, Sampras faced Agassi 34 times, Federer faced Nadal 22 times - all great rivalries, but Navratilova and Evert met an incredible 80 times over the course of 16 years (with 60 of those clashes coming in finals) with Navratilova edging the series 43-37.
As a child, it was Navratilova - Evert and Borg – McEnroe matches that attracted me to tennis. Another factor that elevated Navratilova – Evert rivalry to an almost celebrity status was their contrasting personalities, their on and off court idiosyncrasies and their playing styles. As Evert puts it, "The beauty of our rivalry was not only that we met so many times, but the contrast: we were night and day, so different in every way and brought our own set of fans to the mix. It was drama."
Evert with a strong baseline game, was elegant, attractive and had an emotionless demeanour which earned her the title of “Ice Maiden”. She was earlier known as "Little Chrissie”, and “Cinderella in Sneakers”.
Navratilova played outstanding serve-and-volley game but due to her sexual orientation was unfortunately cast as the villain. Another legendary player, Billie Jean King once said about Navratilova, "She's the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who's ever lived.”
Martina was expressive, erratic, muscular, athletic, often giving cold stares to people around the court. Perhaps these traits had a lot to do with Martina’s upbringing and her early life behind the dreaded Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia.
Frank Deford, author and Sports Illustrated writer succinctly described about Navratilova, “How gratifying it must have been for her to have achieved so much, triumphed so magnificently. Yet always to have been the other, the odd one, alone: lefthander in a right-handed universe, gay in a straight world; defector, immigrant; the gallant volleyer among those duplicate baseline bytes. When she came into the game, she was the European among Americans; she leaves as the American among Europeans—and the only grown-up left in the tennis crib. Can't she ever get it right?"
While Evert had the best of their earlier encounters, it was Navratilova who dominated in the 1980s. Though successful on all surfaces; Evert was the ‘Queen on Clay’. Off court they were amazingly close friends and often practiced together, even before the actual matches. Their rallies were all masterpieces of touch, timing, finesse, strategy, stamina, psychology, disguise, spin and intelligence. Thankfully none of these two legends grunted or groaned and it was this blend of grit, grace and glamour that captivated our hearts.
While Evert gracefully retired, Martina had another contender to beat – ‘The Strokes of Genius’, athletic and reticent - Stefani Graf. They had some epic battles fought with dogged determination, emblazoned with blend of youth against old, right hand against south paw, introvert against extrovert, with Steffi finally defeating Martina in style.
There was a certain romance, joy and a sense of elation when Steffi was around. Steffi with stunning legs and a strong forehand was known as ‘Fraulein Forehand’. She displayed intense concentration, energy and versatility across all playing surfaces. Steffi tossed the ball too high, induced pace in the game, and rarely used her backhand. Her footwork looked unbelievable giving her the perfect balance, speed and power to hit a moving ball in air.
Michael Stone in New York Magazine once wrote, “Graf is exciting to watch no matter whom she plays. Unlike Evert whose baseline game is primarily defensive, or Navratilova with her muscular net - rushing tactics, Graf plays an aggressive all court game, ripping ground strikes with an abandon that baffles the opponents.”
Steffi had her epic battles with Evert as well. In the first half of 1990’s Steffi and Spain's Arantxa Sanchez Vicario had one of the more exciting rivalries in tennis, with Graf eventually clinching 22 championships including the Golden Slam.
Steffi was later challenged by Monica Seles who had to relinquish playing tennis after a ghastly stabbing incident. After the retirement of Steffi, Women’s tennis almost lost its charm. Monica played well but it was her grunting that was obnoxious and unbearable. The next decade was dominated by Williams sister’s with strong baseline game coupled with their grunting, athleticism, and attacking strokes. Along with superior tennis, the William sisters are also famous for their fashion faux pas. Between the two they have won nine Wimbledon titles.
From 1990’s, Women’s tennis became a glamorous sport with the arrival of gorgeous Anna Kournikova. Anna’s matches with cute looking Martina Hingis were always looked upon. Hingis gained popularity at a very young age but failed to demonstrate the tenacity required for any champions. Anna never won a Grand Slam but that didn’t stop the slim, oestrogen bomb to secure the title of "Sexiest Woman in Sport" followed with huge modeling contracts. Before Anna, it was Gabriela Sabatini, known as “Pearl of the Pampas” and “The Divine Argentine”, who had the hottest looks and a splendid backhand that made her clinch the US Open.
Wimbledon is a coveted, traditional tennis tournament and that conservativeness is reflected in the white clothing rule. But the color restriction has not stopped the players to express themselves and challenge the rules. Nadia Petrova is famous for her fluffy Ellesse apparels. Bethanie Mattek Sands never fails to attract attention with her looks and the recent Lady Gaga's designer jacket adorned with white tennis balls must have created a furore amongst the organisers. Venus William’s new zipper jumper with an open back is definitely unique, whether you like it or not, only this time in a much better way than her shocking Australian Open 2011 choices and the most of the provocative 2010 season dresses.
The game has changed significantly. There are many fashionistas and grunters around. The purists despair against plunging necklines and rising hems but not the sponsors, media and marketers. For them, women’s tennis is huge business and the celebrity status of players, garners more interest among spectators.
The players today are increasingly focusing on their looks, fitness, and some of them are equally serious about their game. Already the girls have become cynosure of all eyes. Let’s hope these beautiful ladies will continue playing good tennis with similar grit, grace, gumption so as to attract spectators based on their craft and become a model of gracious sportsmanship like Evert, Navratilova & Graf.
Reference: Martina Navratilova - Navratilova Legacy - Voice, Tennis, and Time http://sports.jrank.org/pages/3418/Navratilova-Martina-Navratilova-Legacy.html#ixzz1RAARar13
Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Poetry in Motion !!!
Few minutes into Novy’s radio commentary and I was already running down the memory lane, dribbling as fast as I could, through days… years… decades… till I reached the magnificent Shastri Nagar play ground…a ground which helped me learn that “Sports builds character”.
I stood on the ground; my small hands playfully caressing the magic wand ….I slowly bend down, started running and hopping as fast as I could…. The magic wand at 45 degrees, woven with beautiful navy blue strip, the hockey stick ruthlessly began combing the lush grass in zigzag manner.
It majestically rotated with speed in clockwise and anticlockwise direction, the ball sometimes bouncing on the rough terrain, gliding gently down the slopes, and yet within my reach …..I quickly dribbled one opponent, gazed around and looked for Sunil in the left flank, who wouldn’t miss a single opportunity to emulate the magic of Zafar Iqbal and hit a GOOOAAAALLLL!!!...
I jumped with joy and for a fleeting moment imagined myself transported in an era when Indian hockey symbolized poetry in motion.
Circa 1979
Mellivel D’mello and Jasdev Singh’s suave voice blared from the transistor. “Indian skipper Surjit Singh with the ball. Surjit passes the ball to the magician, Zafar Iqbal”, the best left out India has ever produced.
“Zafar Iqbal moves from left flank, like a cheetah, dribbles, and makes a short cross pass to Indian center forward Mohammad Shahid. Shahid jumps away from Tahir, the Pakistani forward and moves forward with the ball.”
In early 80’s Zafar Iqbal and Mohammad Shahid formed a deadly combination which no defenders in the world could stop. Pakistan had the great Hasan Sardar, Tahir Zaman and Shahbaz Ahmed.
Mellivel continues “Meanwhile the Pakistani sensation Shahbaz Ahmed attempts to tackle Mohd Shahid. Shahid avoids another rough tackle. Shahid still in possession of the ball moves rapidly and makes a quick diagonal pass to Zafar. Zafar meanwhile has rushed from his position and is standing on the edge of the D.”
“Zafar stops the short pass from Shahid, turns, dribbles two more opponents and cross passes to Shahid. Shahid pulls the ball and runs towards the unmarked left flank. Shahid zigzags into the corner, beats one opponent and turns. The ball is still glued to the stick. Shahid uses his wrist and gently scoops over the Pakistani defender. The ball moves from left to right, parallel to the goal post.”
Meanwhile Mellivel screams, “Zafar moves onto his right, quickly intercepts, and is in the center, almost near the 10 meter mark. The Pakistani goal keeper sees Zafar, rushes and lunges forward to stop Zafar. The goal keeper falls down.”
“Zafar quickly traps the ball and cleverly deflects to the right of the goal keeper. Zafar quickly leaps over the fallen goal keeper and even before the keeper gets up and turns behind…. Zafar pulls it sideways on the left and …a reverse flick and BANG …GOOOAAALLLLL….. A MAJESTIC GOAALLLL !!!…Zafar has done it again for India…”
Alas, it’s been ages since we have witnessed such magnificent wizardry from any Indian hockey team. The last time we saw such display was from Pargat Singh in 1985.
India was down 5-1 to Germany in Australia. There were still 15 minutes left to close of play. Somewhere in Melbourne, the Cricket Champions trophy was being played at the same time which had Shastri winning a shining Audi. Meanwhile on the hockey field, Pargat was single handedly changing the course of game. At the end of the game, the scores read Germany 5, India 5. Despite this win India stood sixth…
As Indians, we love and glorify individual brilliance more than team sports. No wonder we enjoy the exploits of individual cricketers, boxers, tennis players and blatantly denounce hockey, soccer, volleyball and even Kabbadi. Over the years, there have been some remarkable performances and individual brilliance from Dhanraj, Dileep Tirkey, and Prabhjot but on the whole, India has struggled since 1984 in our national game!
The problem with our hockey is that our players do manage to leave the crowd spellbound. The pace, precision and finesse often touch our emotional chords. But the end game, for all the nerve wracking moments, has unfortunately been defeat.
To add to our woes, our hockey is bereft of professional administrators and remains deprived of good infrastructure, sponsorship, dexterity, and glamour and supply chain. A small village in Punjab called Sansarpur and hockey are inseparable, if not synonymous. Remember the outstanding and talented forward Baljit Dhillon from Sansarpur, who along with the media savvy Dhanraj Pillai recreated the magic of Zafar and Shahid.
Unlike cricket, Hockey’s players hail from remote societies and are a motley collection of minorities: the Sikhs, the Muslims from Uttar Pradesh, the Coorgis, the Catholic boys from Orlem ( Malad) and Bandra, the tribals of Jharkhand and Orissa, the Manipuris, and, previously, Anglo-Indians.
Perhaps S.Thayagirajan inarguably the best known hockey scribe of India sums up well, “Competitive hockey is not about how well you play but how tactically you play for a decisive result.”
Isn’t it true? For those who watched the final last month, it must have been a revelation as to what modern hockey is all about. Forget those grass fields, pretty skills and supple wrists that Indians and Pakistanis were once known for and the attributes that had helped them rule the hockey kingdom in the distant past. Rather, today, it is all about astro -turf, fitness, speed and power besides tactical acumen of the players who can execute the plans on the pitch.
Come to think of, Indian hockey authorities would be kicking themselves for not hiring Ric Charlesworth, the legendary Aussie former captain and champion coach back in 2008 when he had offered to train the National side. Rather, Charlesworth was humiliated before he became a victim to vicious whispering campaign. Australia won the 2010 world championship defeating Germany, and don’t be surprised if Ric Charlesworth is still having the last laugh!
Perhaps one of the best ways to revive hockey is by creating interest among kids. About time parents gift young kids with hockey stick instead of only a cricket bat. So what if they play on road or on clay. At least we might be able to create some spectators if not make them a player. Unless there is a conscious effort from administrators to empower foreign coaches, tap talent at grass root level, start clubs in colonies, and explore avenues for sponsorship and entertainment, hockey will not survive. No wonder, Aslam Sher Khan’s autobiography titled “To Hell with Hockey” - continues to reverberate on Indian hockey lover’s lips.
“GOOOAAALLLLL, Well done Rajpal, India has equalized”….. Novy Kapadia’s sonorous voice kept blaring loudly in the car. That evening our Indian hockey team was playing against England, and invariably trying hard to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. By the time I reached home, India had lost …3-2 to England…. and I had lost my appetite.
Its strange but true….A world cup loss in T20 might fail to generate tears but a hockey match has the ability to choke and bring out the tears. In those 70 minutes, it generates tremendous patriotic fervor, and allows you to selflessly immerse in the experience, energy, enthusiasm and the excitement of the players and crowd.
Today the hockey stick has become a metaphor and with age perhaps replaced with an expensive golf club!…But the hands still yearns to grip the wooden magic wand….
Hopefully.. one day.. some day… like in Cricket, we will be able to find some Tendulkar and Lalit Modi who will be able to revive Indian Hockey!.
I stood on the ground; my small hands playfully caressing the magic wand ….I slowly bend down, started running and hopping as fast as I could…. The magic wand at 45 degrees, woven with beautiful navy blue strip, the hockey stick ruthlessly began combing the lush grass in zigzag manner.
It majestically rotated with speed in clockwise and anticlockwise direction, the ball sometimes bouncing on the rough terrain, gliding gently down the slopes, and yet within my reach …..I quickly dribbled one opponent, gazed around and looked for Sunil in the left flank, who wouldn’t miss a single opportunity to emulate the magic of Zafar Iqbal and hit a GOOOAAAALLLL!!!...
I jumped with joy and for a fleeting moment imagined myself transported in an era when Indian hockey symbolized poetry in motion.
Circa 1979
Mellivel D’mello and Jasdev Singh’s suave voice blared from the transistor. “Indian skipper Surjit Singh with the ball. Surjit passes the ball to the magician, Zafar Iqbal”, the best left out India has ever produced.
“Zafar Iqbal moves from left flank, like a cheetah, dribbles, and makes a short cross pass to Indian center forward Mohammad Shahid. Shahid jumps away from Tahir, the Pakistani forward and moves forward with the ball.”
In early 80’s Zafar Iqbal and Mohammad Shahid formed a deadly combination which no defenders in the world could stop. Pakistan had the great Hasan Sardar, Tahir Zaman and Shahbaz Ahmed.
Mellivel continues “Meanwhile the Pakistani sensation Shahbaz Ahmed attempts to tackle Mohd Shahid. Shahid avoids another rough tackle. Shahid still in possession of the ball moves rapidly and makes a quick diagonal pass to Zafar. Zafar meanwhile has rushed from his position and is standing on the edge of the D.”
“Zafar stops the short pass from Shahid, turns, dribbles two more opponents and cross passes to Shahid. Shahid pulls the ball and runs towards the unmarked left flank. Shahid zigzags into the corner, beats one opponent and turns. The ball is still glued to the stick. Shahid uses his wrist and gently scoops over the Pakistani defender. The ball moves from left to right, parallel to the goal post.”
Meanwhile Mellivel screams, “Zafar moves onto his right, quickly intercepts, and is in the center, almost near the 10 meter mark. The Pakistani goal keeper sees Zafar, rushes and lunges forward to stop Zafar. The goal keeper falls down.”
“Zafar quickly traps the ball and cleverly deflects to the right of the goal keeper. Zafar quickly leaps over the fallen goal keeper and even before the keeper gets up and turns behind…. Zafar pulls it sideways on the left and …a reverse flick and BANG …GOOOAAALLLLL….. A MAJESTIC GOAALLLL !!!…Zafar has done it again for India…”
Alas, it’s been ages since we have witnessed such magnificent wizardry from any Indian hockey team. The last time we saw such display was from Pargat Singh in 1985.
India was down 5-1 to Germany in Australia. There were still 15 minutes left to close of play. Somewhere in Melbourne, the Cricket Champions trophy was being played at the same time which had Shastri winning a shining Audi. Meanwhile on the hockey field, Pargat was single handedly changing the course of game. At the end of the game, the scores read Germany 5, India 5. Despite this win India stood sixth…
As Indians, we love and glorify individual brilliance more than team sports. No wonder we enjoy the exploits of individual cricketers, boxers, tennis players and blatantly denounce hockey, soccer, volleyball and even Kabbadi. Over the years, there have been some remarkable performances and individual brilliance from Dhanraj, Dileep Tirkey, and Prabhjot but on the whole, India has struggled since 1984 in our national game!
The problem with our hockey is that our players do manage to leave the crowd spellbound. The pace, precision and finesse often touch our emotional chords. But the end game, for all the nerve wracking moments, has unfortunately been defeat.
To add to our woes, our hockey is bereft of professional administrators and remains deprived of good infrastructure, sponsorship, dexterity, and glamour and supply chain. A small village in Punjab called Sansarpur and hockey are inseparable, if not synonymous. Remember the outstanding and talented forward Baljit Dhillon from Sansarpur, who along with the media savvy Dhanraj Pillai recreated the magic of Zafar and Shahid.
Unlike cricket, Hockey’s players hail from remote societies and are a motley collection of minorities: the Sikhs, the Muslims from Uttar Pradesh, the Coorgis, the Catholic boys from Orlem ( Malad) and Bandra, the tribals of Jharkhand and Orissa, the Manipuris, and, previously, Anglo-Indians.
Perhaps S.Thayagirajan inarguably the best known hockey scribe of India sums up well, “Competitive hockey is not about how well you play but how tactically you play for a decisive result.”
Isn’t it true? For those who watched the final last month, it must have been a revelation as to what modern hockey is all about. Forget those grass fields, pretty skills and supple wrists that Indians and Pakistanis were once known for and the attributes that had helped them rule the hockey kingdom in the distant past. Rather, today, it is all about astro -turf, fitness, speed and power besides tactical acumen of the players who can execute the plans on the pitch.
Come to think of, Indian hockey authorities would be kicking themselves for not hiring Ric Charlesworth, the legendary Aussie former captain and champion coach back in 2008 when he had offered to train the National side. Rather, Charlesworth was humiliated before he became a victim to vicious whispering campaign. Australia won the 2010 world championship defeating Germany, and don’t be surprised if Ric Charlesworth is still having the last laugh!
Perhaps one of the best ways to revive hockey is by creating interest among kids. About time parents gift young kids with hockey stick instead of only a cricket bat. So what if they play on road or on clay. At least we might be able to create some spectators if not make them a player. Unless there is a conscious effort from administrators to empower foreign coaches, tap talent at grass root level, start clubs in colonies, and explore avenues for sponsorship and entertainment, hockey will not survive. No wonder, Aslam Sher Khan’s autobiography titled “To Hell with Hockey” - continues to reverberate on Indian hockey lover’s lips.
“GOOOAAALLLLL, Well done Rajpal, India has equalized”….. Novy Kapadia’s sonorous voice kept blaring loudly in the car. That evening our Indian hockey team was playing against England, and invariably trying hard to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. By the time I reached home, India had lost …3-2 to England…. and I had lost my appetite.
Its strange but true….A world cup loss in T20 might fail to generate tears but a hockey match has the ability to choke and bring out the tears. In those 70 minutes, it generates tremendous patriotic fervor, and allows you to selflessly immerse in the experience, energy, enthusiasm and the excitement of the players and crowd.
Today the hockey stick has become a metaphor and with age perhaps replaced with an expensive golf club!…But the hands still yearns to grip the wooden magic wand….
Hopefully.. one day.. some day… like in Cricket, we will be able to find some Tendulkar and Lalit Modi who will be able to revive Indian Hockey!.
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