Reasons to smile...!!

Posting after almost 2 months. There have been reasons.....

* Have been part of a unique Squash Development Programme in Delhi Schools. Check out http://maitreya.wikidot.com/squash-development-programme. Currently the programme is taking the game to 90 school kids in Delhi. This was one of my long cherished dreams...taking the great game of Squash Rackets to the grass-roots. Humble beginnings have been made.
* Was extremely tense about India's performance at the Beijing Olympics. Since childhood I have watched our sportsmen return from Games one after another with their heads bowed...in despondency. Often I cried. It made me feel very sad since sports has been my greatest passion all along. I wondered when we will make a mark at the Olympics. Well, after yesterdays performance...we now have Abhinav, Sushil & Vijender winning us medals....the likes of me can smile this time round for a change.

The above two points represent 2 critical aspects of sport development....grass-roots with school kids...and the other...championship play and performance. Both have to go hand in hand. Taking sports to the masses means investment in good public health too.....especially when we work to popularise 'life-style' sports like Squash. By life-style sport I mean sports that can easily plug into our lifestyles as we grow and mature. Not every kid who plays a sport adopts it as a career. Most pursue other vocations in life...for one reason or another. It is critical for these individuals to keep playing games all their lives....simply for good health and fitness. Thus, promoting and popularizing such sports is critical for care-givers like us who work day in and day out with kids.

For the few who adopt sports as a career this Olympic success means a lot.....many times over!! I now sincerely hope that sports authorities in India as well as the Indian Corporate sector stand up and begin to support sports besides cricket.

Am keeping my fingers crossed for both aspects mentioned above...grass-roots as well as championship play!!!

Cya!!