Cheering a win!
What matters now is that the cheer of support of their country continues and continues to ring in their ears in their brain. Because it is this noise that will block out all but their goal that next time they will win and win big.
Ever since the Olympic winners have returned, there has been a media frenzy and excitement in covering them and putting them on the pedestal. The favourites have been Vijay Kumar, Saina Nehwal, Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt and of course Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom. Being a sportsman, I have been following the games with interest. It always feels good to see our country win, be it in any sport. The thoughts of these talented men and women are exactly what every sportsperson feels.
When Mary Kom stated that the chants of 'Mary Kom, Mary Kom' and 'India, India' really pumped her up in her matches against Tunisia and Poland, it reflects the surge of emotion that all of us have felt at one time or other. While she also said in her fight with Nicola Adams, things were just the opposite. Every seat was taken with a large amount of locals who were there to support their country. In a big game like that, I would understand that crowd support definitely is very important and the fact was that Nicola’s every move was cheered by the British crowd. The decibels only kept increasing with every punch she landed on Mary.
I would imagine Mary would well have been prepared for the fact that she was fighting a local hero, and that the crowd support would be with Adams. As a player, I know the high that a cheering home crowd can give in a good game. Many also believe, home cheering was key to the spectacular performance of our sportsmen during the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games. It was no different for Mary, when she was in a bout with Adams. Each time Nicola hit Mary, there were loud cheers from the arena and every time Mary scored a point, there were loud boos from the crowd. This support plays on the mind, especially in a game like boxing where the fight is as much physical as it is psychological.
I cannot agree more with the 86% of the respondents of the TenVicks survey, conducted amongst sportspersons in India, who emphasised the need for crowd cheers, and for India to be motivated by a unified crowd singing its cheer anthem. It makes the hair stand on end to hear ‘Jana Gana Mana’ playing for you in a different country, and to see the flag going up for you. What plays an equally strong role in a win and where we sportspersons need support, is the emotional and psychological aspect that back a player. What players need is positive reinforcement and constructive criticism. The paradox of Indian fan’s love and hate can sometimes destroy players and kill spirit. It’s not about a win, about a gold, silver or bronze. Many of the 81-strong contingents are coming home with nothing, to be forgotten or worse to face shame. Is this what you get to represent your country in what is a conglomeration of the world’s best sports talent?
What matters now is that the cheer of support of their country continues, and continues to ring in their ears, in their brain. Because it is this noise that will block out all, but their goal, that next time they will win, and win big. For it is true and must be recognised that every player who steps into the sporting arena, goes there with only the motive to win. I wish my country will shout and scream and cheer for each of the 81 who went to compete with the best, so they forget what it has been and look forward and prepare for what can be, for this is what will demonstrate that we as Indians know how to cheer and create champions!
Dilip Vengsarkar