Sports is all about Maths, Science and Champion Stuff

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While I have been away from blogs for quite a while, the mind has been pre-occupied with professional stuff. As much as I would love to write, times have been challenging and hectic. Last couple of weeks have seen a spurt in Sporting activities on the field after a long long time. The French Open, WTC Finals in England, Wimbledon, Euro Cup and the Copa America. Djokovic, New Zealand, Italy and Argentina all deserving champions of their respective sport. Kudos on the amazing victories.

However I have decided to stay on the Mathematical science route as far as this particular blog is concerned. It actually struck me a couple of months ago when India’s champion bowler R. Ashwin involving himself in online coaching classes when Covid struck India for the first time. It was a revelation for me. The Grip on the ball, the analogies used to make the concept understandable, the revs on the ball for a spinner. Besides the approach, the run up, the speed, acceleration, the final jump and the delivery. Likening it to changing of gears while riding a bike pure science. As I watched him bowl in the WTC final against New Zealand reasserted the point that a combination of Maths, Science and Champions mind is what is makes sport so exciting. At one point Ashwin was bowling at a fastish pace, making the batsman believe that the deliveries were of drivable length and all of a sudden, a slight variation in pace, a slower delivery and the batsman is lured into it, deceiving him all ends and therein begins the long walk to the pavilion. Science, Maths and A Champion mind has prevailed.

Move on I see Messi using his magic legs to deceive his opponents. I would like to bring one aspect of the great footballers game just to get to the main point of discussion in this blog. He was awarded the golden boot award on two counts in this tournament, highest number of goals and the highest number of match assists. He had four goals in his name and a total of five assists. I was witness to one of the assists where Messi dribbled past a few of his opponents still a few remained in front of him. He tapped the ball with his left foot dissecting a few opponents in front and dropping dead in front of his team mate who had to just beat the goalkeeper. What precision, skill, maths, science and champion stuff.

Djokovic, what a player. 20 Grand slams, champion in Wimbledon Two Years in a row and many more to come. He along with Rafa and Federer have redefined artistry and power in the world of Tennis. I was watching the Wimbledon Final where a couple of his shots were out of the world. Clearly while Matteo Berrettini was serving up all the aces, Djokovic had an overall sense of the game, better at the net and lesser number of unforced errors which eventually helped him to emerge as the champion. Djokovic knew that he was up against a much younger opponent with a boom boom serve. He stood a chance to win only by clever speed variations at the net and subtle changes in bat speed. In tennis there is a net in between the players which in a way is an impediment in the line of sight as far as the players are concerned. However those delectable drop shots, those beautiful forehand cross court drives, the masterful angles in which the shots are executed are a combination of years of practice plus awareness of the mind that calculates those delicate angle, spaces in which the ball lands. Masters of Maths, Science and Champion Stuff…..

Three Champions from different Sports: Ashwin, Messi and Djokovic but what draws them together is their analytical skills, their understanding of their respective sports, their match awareness, years and years of honing their skills plus Maths & Science. This blog is by no way demeaning other players or teams but just an illustration as to how Maths & Science plays a key role in modern day sport. Draw up any other sports/champions and you will find similar answers

Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

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