Im a sportsperson first. Anyone who pursues a hobby with some seriousness or plays a sport with certain dedication would understand, as I did at the age of 15-years, that sports is a potent instrument of ‘social engineering. It affects change and regulates the future development and behaviour of a society at large. Sports is […]

Let me start by saying that I don’t want to sound a fanatic, for I don’t suggest anything that I can’t do myself. I quit smoking recently. And that’s no small feat. Tobacco is the most common form of addiction and one of the most harmful as well, much more than the dreaded cannabis or […]

India’s performance in the world of sports is a matter of concern — with some notable exceptions. It requires no rocket science to realise the simple fact that we perform badly because we are poorly prepared. This is not to indulge in a blame game, but merely to make it clear that recognising a problem […]

Let there be no doubt. In life, there’s no bigger, and persistent, high than good health. No drug can match the thrill of competing in sports. Reality well lived is more enticing than the coloured vision of a drug addict. There’s always hope, and life has this enviable capacity to bounce back, unless, of course, […]

The world is changing. Sport is a strong vehicle of change. And one of the best examples of this phenomenon is Qatar, which is on the fast track of modernisation and transformation ever since it clinched the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This is the first time that a mega sporting event […]

It’s an administrative triumph that India is hosting the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. It will be an inspiration for the youth and children to adopt and excel in the most popular sport of the world. This event is the first step in the right direction to realise India’s immense potential in the sport — but […]

A few months ago, I was on a panel discussing how more women could be engaged in sports or how equal opportunities could be created for them in sports. Sitting on a platform set up by the country’s largest industry body that is backed by the government, it certainly did not make sense for anybody […]