A Scar Uncovered

They are standing in amazement at the gates of the Magnificent National Sports Academy (NSA), thinking, ‘It’s a dream!’

Wrestling is for boys, right? No!!!

Geeta has fulfilled her father’s dream of becoming a national wrestling champion. Despite having limited exposure in her village, she has been practicing, competing, and winning against boys. Only reaching a point where her talent and skill is at max and her performance at her peak. She is hardly a match for her peer girls.

Her NSA coach thinks otherwise….

Everything needs to be forgotten as international competition is “different”.

Only the “latest” techniques are to be used.

Geeta’s natural wrestling style has changed, and her performance drops. She starts losing more often.

Her father (an ex-wrestling champion), her childhood coach, realizes this. Off the NSA, he tries to re-fix, brings her back to her natural style, and Geeta, re-energized, wins Gold for her country.

Guess what – “Not everything Latest is the Greatest!”

Some weekends, we sit together with the kids and watch a movie.

“Dangal”, an Aamir Khan movie, a true story, uncovered my scars I was not aware of.

When a teenager, I used to be a cricket crazy left-handed batsman.

I used to be pleasently surprised when my cousins admired me on my hard hitting and agressive batting style, hitting sixes and fours. They even used to ask me to hit a six on demand and watch in admiration.

I thought I had something special in my aggressive left-handed batting.

Aspiring to be selected in the under-nineteen cricket team, I joined a cricket academy.

The very 1st day, my coach strictly told me to “Defend”

Days went by, and I lost my touch. Completely erased my style, and all I could do was “Defense”.

I lost cricket and left.