Any lessons?

Nadal and Federer. When two of the current icons of world sports were locked in a battle of nerves for close to five hours (4hr, 48min) last night, the world around the Centre Court was waiting with patience. Nobody expected the match would progress to the 62nd game — surpassing the 1954 record of longest Wimbledon men’s singles final with 58 games — and beyond 9pm local time. Though interrupted by rain — longest being 81 minutes after Nadal won the first two sets (6-4, 6-4) and was down with 4-5 in the third — the spectators, including the legendary Borg, were still waiting whether a miracle could be witnessed. Miracle they saw. Miracle that was Nadal, only the third man in open era to claim that he is the king on both clay and grass courts.

For the country on the east of Atlantic, two successive Sundays were probably the biggest ever sporting feats achieved in recent times. Spain does not play cricket, neither it is known for any great chess player. Slow is probably not its passion. The country, known best for its national sports bull-fighting, has revolutionised the way games are being played. Be it in politics or on the grass pitches. Have you ever heard of a fast-moving country with centuries-old of tradition and heritage could appoint a lady its defence minister? Can India ever do that?

Well, let’s not compare such silly things. Let’s talk sports. Can India ever be the Asia champion, a la Euro? In soccer? From an over billion-odd population, we found 11 strong and able footballers who have helped India to get the 153rd spot on the Fifa rankings. Well, we are not even champion in cricket, nor even in Asia (India lost the Asia Cup final to Sri Lanka by 100 runs), although the game is widely marketed with generating crores of revenue every year. What can be done to turn a Dhoni (incidentally, today is his birthday) into a say, David Villa, or a Torres from a Tendulkar? But we are a proud nation, especially in sports. Reasons: besides stars with the bat and ball we have Anand, Paes, Sania. We also have Dola Banerjee or Mangal Singh Champia — no matter a very few people have heard of their names!

Is it that we lack a steely nerve like that of Federer who can only concede to Nadal after denying him four championship points last night? Perhaps.

© Supratim Pal