Sports is all about Maths, Science and Champion Stuff
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
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