- The most fascinating aspects of the universe are the sporadic unearthing of surprises that cannot be easily deduced or comprehended by mere mortals like us. The sheer audacity of some of the inventions, innovations, developments, initiatives, and growths witnessed over the millennia by humankind could be aptly considered as nothing short of miraculous. Human quest for newer inventions despite encountering tremendous challenges is well documented, inspiring us to not only follow in such remarkable footsteps but also earnestly attempt to emulate them as well. Of course, there are innumerable instances of human endurance coming to the fore to showcase brilliance in diverse fields, including sports.
PC: MSN
- Some of the precocious talents unearthed over the centuries simply defy conventional logic and go beyond the realm of ordinary achievements. What was hitherto considered inhuman and impossible to even think about is successfully overhauled, showcasing yet again human ingenuity in not giving up just like that. Sporting achievements accomplished by talented performers are dime a dozen. One such incident was recently reported widely in India. Little Ishank Singh, all of 7 years, by all accounts, is a water baby. He started swimming at age 3. Yes, you read it right. Once his Sri Lanka to India 29km swim was chalked out, he trained up to 8 hours daily. And came good with a world record – crossing the Palk Strait in 9 hours, 50 minutes, the youngest and fastest.
PC: Republic World
- Little wonder, he is already dreaming of the Olympics, when others his age are in Class 2, learning basic three-digit numbers, nouns, and verbs. How does India make sure Ishank has a stab at his dream? Are we missing a blueprint here? Needless to mention, India lacks the basic ecosystem for nurturing young sports talent. As Ishank showed, there’s no dearth of sporting potential. But it took decades for diverse cricketing talent to dare dream about access to funds, 360-degree training, alongside those with similar potential. No individual sport gets that attention. Even chess academies are run by civil society, led by former players. It ends up with either parents investing or cold-calling corporate houses. This is unsustainable if India is ever to expand its sporting base.
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PC: The Better India
- The moot point to ponder over here is where Ishank goes from here? Government, India Inc, must both step up. He needs not training alone, but competition; not just funds, but support; not just stamina, but mental fortitude. One winner is reason enough to lay the training foundation and go scouting for more. And, just as important, no child must feel pressure to pursue their talent solely for competitive purposes. But to train, for its very sake, for the love of sport and technique. This is not to dissuade parents from aiming high for their super-talented kids, but it is best to recognize that gruelling physical training can lead to childhood sacrificed at the altar of a records/medals race. This risk is especially high when there is no institutionalized safety net of funds, guidance, and emotional support. Ishank’s a star in the making. What’s to be done to keep it that way? Lots.
