Tennis the Menace!

The only sport that I follow religiously, almost to the point of obsession, is tennis. I have been hooked ever since I saw a 16 year old Martina Hingis win Wimbledon in 1997. From Hingis to Ferrero to Henin, I have always been fascinated with certain individual players at a given point of time. Ever since Sania Mirza burst on the scene in 2005, starting the year at 150 odd in the rankings and ending it in the top 30, my interest in Indian tennis spiked. So come 2012 Olympics, and I was excited for Indian medal prospects in tennis at London. Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupati, Rohan Bopanna and Sania all had stupendous 12 months in doubles, and chances of a medal looked bright, especially in mixed doubles with Bhupati-Mirza at the helm. Bhupati-Bopanna pairing up for men's doubles seemed a foregone conclusion to me, as the two were playing together since the beginning of the year, and Bopanna had broken his highly successful partnership with Aisam from Pakistan to prepare for the Olympics with Bhupati. So it was a terrible shock when last week AITA announced Paes-Bhupati as their chosen pair, and thus fielding only one team when India was eligible for two.

As the week long drama continued, I was totally against everything the AITA was proposing. Pairing Bhupati and Paes who have failed on previous attempts, and have not played with each other in a while, and most importantly, have no trust and camaraderie between them, seemed preposterous. As did denying Bopanna a spot, who is ranked higher than Bhupati, and was the only one who sacrificed personal interest on the ATP tour for the sake of the Olympics.But as the week rolled on, things began to get murkier. The absolute refusal by Bhpuati and Bopanna to team up with Paes seemed more like a spoiled kid's tantrums to get what he wants. Details of the spat and confidential communication was leaked to the media, fathers of both Paes and Bhupati hopped from one channel to another defending their sons' decisions respectively. Paes, who till now had agreed to play with anyone, was encouraged by AITA's backing and refused to play with a lower ranked player, demanding the right to choose his partner by virtue of being the world no. 7, and highest ranked Indian. Slowly my opinion started aligning with that of the AITA's. Pairing Paes, who has been in great form this year, winning the Australian Open doubles, with someone ranked outside the top 200, with whom he has never played before does seem totally unfair and illogical, as there would be no realistic chances of winning a medal. Meanwhile, Bhupati and Paes, with years of experience behind them, could just rise to the occasion if they could overcome all the pettiness. Also, Bhupati and Bopanna have not performed exceptionally on the big stage together, even if showing flashes of brilliance. As such, sending a single team with reasonable chances seemed more palusible and in the interest of the nation than ending two under prerpared teams.

However, objectively looking at the situation, Bhupati-Bopanna's request was also not that beyond reason. But the fact that it was put forth as a demand with a threat of pullout, rather than request, was what made it seem irresponsible. Clearly there could have been no winners. The AITA has to shoulder the blame, as they were aware of the players' situations since the beginning of the year. Paes and Bhupati who paired last year with moderate success with an eye on the Olympics, split again at the year end and made it clear that they couldn't play together anymore. Immediately, Bopanna and Bhupati teamed up. Deliberations should have started much in advance by AITA, and not a week before the deadline to submit names to ITF. Now that AITA has bowed down to Bhupati and Bopanna, they do risk losing the country's best player - incidentally the one who was responsible for India's first individual Olympic medal post independance. The bait they have thrown him is promising him a mixed doubles spot with Sania. But the problem here is clear, as for one, her wildcard is not confirmed, and there may not be any mixed doubles entry from India at all, and two, Sania is playing regularly at slams with Bhupati and has just recently won the French Open with him. So basically we will end up with three teams which will not be our best possible representation. 

One only hopes that Bopanna and Bhupati live up to their premise, and vindicate their stand with a brilliant performance at the Olympics. And if Sania does receive a wildcard, she should enter the upcoming Wimbledon (also the venue for the Olympics tennis event) mixed doubles with Paes instead of Bhupati, to have some big match practice as a team if they are to be paired together. All said and done, where it should have been love all, things are still stuck in at a deuce, and Indian tennis may be down the game, set and match!

Happiness Lies in Sore Legs

From health issues to total confusion and chaos on the career front, the last couple of years haven't exactly been a cakewalk for me. Compared to them, all that cribbing about my life at Pondicherry University (PU) in the initial posts of this blog seem frivolous. Though these issues are far from being sorted out, I have at least learned to live with them, if not just as yet figured out a way to get rid of them. However, last week I did take a small but significant step towards taking control over my life - another attempt at reclamation of my life from the all pervading chaos, most of which is self created.

It is often said that life and all its shenanigans are much easier to deal with if we can manage to take out time for ourselves, and do the things we really enjoy. Though in my case, it wasn't as much a question of taking out time, as it was of getting off my butt and stop being lazy. My first attempt of doing so was when I started this blog, which after showing initial promise, has been dying a slow death lately.

During the two years in hostel at PU I rediscovered my childhood love for dancing, which I had long forgotten. All thanks to the incessant "interaction" sessions with seniors (also known as ragging), and then being part of two rather embarrassing and ill-conceived performances. Apparently, cutting the rug to "Pappu can't dance saala!" (Irony #101) in hostel rooms and labs for nearly 2 months was the trigger needed to reignite my love for dancing. I noticed that I was the happiest when I was dancing. It was literally, a case of "dancing the blues away" for me. So ever since I came back to Delhi, I vowed to take up dancing - i.e. join dance classes. This was mid-2010. Nearly two years down the line, that plan remained a permanent fixture on my countless to-do lists. Many Cul-de-sac plans ensued. I even found quite a few friends who shared this interest, and were willing to give me company in this endeavour. This was crucial for me, as finding a partner for an activity serves as a regulator to ensure that you go through with it. In a rare departure from my usual self, I even showed initiative in compiling a list of dance schools and academies, their contacts, class timings etc. But that's where it ended, cause I never did use any of those contact ids. Nor did my "regulators".

However as they say, nothing happens before its time. Of course, it may be total Bull, and a easy way out for lazy slouches. But it did kind of work that way this time around. Fate, being in the right place at the right time, and one of those supposed-to-be-regulator friends got together and an opportunity landed in my lap to join a jazz workshop being conducted by choreographer Ashley Lobo's dance academy, The Danceworx, literally a day before it was to begin. That might have been a crucial factor, as my ever-doubtful brain didn't get much time to think of excuses for me to shirk and back out. I agreed, managed to stifle the doubts and dozen of reasons that came up for me NOT to join the workshop, and showed up on the fateful Sunday to indulge in the activity that probably elicits my biggest endorphin-rush. And needless to say, I have been reveling in the pure bliss caused by extremely sore legs since then. A six-week workshop with one LONG class a week, culminating in a public performance, may not be enough to satiate my senses, but at least its a beginning. Plus now I don't have to defend the ever-growing share of upbeat, dance tracks in my music collection to my mother, which had really begun to puzzle and bother her off late!

So as I try to bust a move every Sunday, I realize to my utter dismay that I am no Chris Brown or Justin Timberlake as I would picture myself in my head while dancing. Getting down and jiggying with it on the dance floor to a DJ at a party, and coordinating your feet and hands to counts of 8 and uptempo music in front of a mirror and professional dancers are entirely different ball games. However, I am relishing the challenge and the journey from being the apparent star on the dance floor (in my head, that is) to the guy with two left feet who can't get a simple routine down. But I am sure this would be a real help in letting go of some inhibitions and loosening up a bit, not to mention providing the much needed physical exercise to my sedentary ass. Just hope that I would be motivated enough to continue beyond this workshop and take up regular classes. But till then I have these 6 weeks, aur yeh 6 hafte mujhse koi nahi cheen sakta! So, just Turn Up The Music, cause I am gonna Dance Again!

"Always remember, you'll live, you'll love .... you'll dance again"

Exasperated by online bullying!

No, I am not being bullied online, by people at least. I am being bullied by two companies which have off late become an inherent part of the daily routine of millions of people around the world - Google and Facebook. What's with these authoritarian attitude towards these new, so called modern interface updates? In spite of near universal backlash and negative feedback, these two giants are sticking with their new interfaces like a stubborn three year old. Whatever happened to "the customer is the king"? When the primary users of these services are completely against the new looks, then why are these service providers hell bent on imposing them on us? I had been "reverting back to the old look temporarily" on Gmail for many months now, but now Google has preyed upon my account with the new look. I was horrified, utterly dismayed to see that the only savior, the option of "reverting back to the old look temporarily" had been taken away from me today when I logged in. I can't even bring myself to stay on Gmail for more than 2 minutes since the switch. I instantly expressed my indignation on facebook, but that wasn't enough of an outlet. And as soon as I came here to unleash my tirade, I was greeted with a bar "Blogger is getting a new interface in April. Update now". Yeah! What way to kick me when I am down, Google! But a new interface on Blogger or google+ or any other surface doesn't affect me as much as that of Gmail. I start my working days with opening my gmail account, a ritual I believe most people who spend their day working on a computer follow religiously. Especially Grad students like myself, and that too a Bioinformatician. Now I dread the prospect of staring at this hideous new interface, where I can see only one of the two - my chat list or my carefully managed labels - at a time, one has to strain to differentiate between read and unread mails, and what not! I am seriously considering switching to my now defunct Yahoo mail account, cause that is what these companies thrive on - the belief that people eventually get used to whatever you impose on them. Facebook has made a habit out of it, introducing horrible changes again and again over the past couple of years, and people do get used to it. Hundreds of complaints about the new look on Google's feedback group all elicit a cautious, unapologetic, polite response from a Google representative, offering videos and links to aid people in getting adjusted to the new look, and totally ignoring the actual feedback - that the new look SUCKS and we want out of it!

I am just dreading the day the much dreaded and detested Timeline catches up with my Facebook profile. maybe that's the day I'll start getting more productive, and drastically reduce the hours spent on staring at my Gmail inbox, chatting or facebooking.

The wait was not Endless!

If there is a celebrity I am cuckoo over, it has to be Shania Twain. And no, this is not a tribute post or anything, there is enough written about her out there for anyone interested. Its just a celebration of her return with new music...... well not new technically, as its a cover version of the classic duet, "Endless Love" by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross - dubbed by Billboard as the the greatest duet of all time. frankly, I never cared for this song, or any of Richie's earlier stuff. In fact, I can positively say that I hate one of his most popular hits, "Hello". But I like him a whole lot more now, for coaxing Shania to do this. And needless to say, I think this one surpasses the original in every possible way. Now eagerly waiting for her new album, though I am skeptical, because this would not be produced and co-written by Mutt Lange. He might have been a scum of a person, but his compositions were definitely a big part of Shania's success, and it remains to be seen if she can deliver the same quality of music on her own, which made her one of the best selling female singers of all time with just four albums.

The video has a quintessential Shania-esque feel to it, and the vocals by both hit the right notes, with Shania slightly edging Lionel with her passionate rendition.

Sania ka Swayamvar....... for a doubles partner?

Its the Olympic year, and after its best ever performance in 2008 with a gold and two bronze, India has been gunning for an even better show at the ultimate sporting event. And these hopes are not entirely misplaced, if the top of the table finish at the 2010 Commonwealth Games is any indication. The Shooters will be the flag bearers of medal hopes like always, but will get tough competition from the Boxing Contingent, Archery, Wrestling and Badminton. However, another event, which might not be too high on the Common Man's medal-hopeful list, is Tennis. The Indian men have always been a potential threat in the men's doubles circuit on the ATP tour, but what brings Tennis into the limelight this year is the introduction of the mixed doubles event at the Olympics after a long gap.And the Indian players, most of all Sania Mirza, strongly believe they are contenders for a medal in this event. This might very well be the case, with both Sania and the men (Paes, Bhupati, and Bopanna) doing considerably well on the WTA and ATP circuits respectively.

Till last year, there were hopes for all the singles and doubles events, but with Somdev literally out of contention due to an injury since the beginning of the year, and Sania's singles ranking showing no signs of defying the law of gravity, it all boils down to the doubles. Sania, after showing initial promise in the singles with a career high ranking of 27, has now quickly settled into the Indian habit of being a doubles specialist. She's had a remarkable run with Elena Vesnina of Russia since exactly an year ago, when they won the Premier level Indian Wells event. Since then, she has won 3-4 doubles titles (13 in all), been to a couple of grand slam finals and semifinals in both the mixed and women's doubles, and has remarkably broken into the top 10 (currently ranked 7). She understands that she needs to be ranked in the top 10 in doubles or top 64 in singles to participate in any event, and with singles looking like a distant possibility, she has decided to focus entirely on the doubles this year, and skipping singles WTA tournaments, to maintain her top 10 ranking, which will be difficult, as she's defending a lot of points from last year. However having made it to the SFs in both the doubles and mixed doubles at the Australian Open, a win at Pattaya, and couple of other SFs, she's in good nick, and could easily maintain her top 10 ranking till June. This will allow her to play in both the women's and mixed doubles at the Olympics. But the prospects of a doubles medal are severely hampered, as there is no other Indian girl even close to international levels, and it would be tough to see Sania and her prospective partner top the pre-quarterfinal appearance by her and Sunitha Rao in the 2008 games. Hence, in interview after interview, Sania has reiterated that the mixed doubles is the best chance for India to score a medal in Tennis.

On the men's side, its all messed up. Paes and Bhupati, the Indian express, got back together last year with an eye on the Olympics, and did a pretty decent job. On the other side Bopanna was working up a miracle with Pakistan's Quereshi. Hence it was a shock when Paes and Bhupati decided to split at the end of the year, causing a split in the other team too. Now Bhupati has teamed up with Bopanna, while Paes is playing with Stepanek. Bhupati-Bopanna pairing seems like an obvious shut out of Paes from the men's doubles event, which is ironic, as Paes is the highest ranked Indian, and has had a fantastic year, winning the Australian Open doubles and runner up in the mixed doubles, and doing pretty well in most ATP tournaments. On the other hand, Bhupati and Bopanna have not lived up to their individual potentials as a team, and have just managed a single title recently, with Bhupati not even being in the top 10.

Though its not the players who decide who gets to partner whom at the Olympics, Bhupati and Bopanna playing in the Men's doubles seems like a foregone conclusion. So for the mixed doubles event, its a problem of ek anaar, teen beemaar for the AITA (All India Tennis Association).

IF Bhupati and Bopanna play in the Men's doubles, it would logically mean that Paes gets to partner with Sania in the mixed doubles. This may not sound so bad, as Paes does pretty well in most of the grand slams wit different partners, and they have won the Doha Asian Games gold together, but that was in 2006. However, Sania and Bhuapti have played in the mixed doubles of grand slams frequently, winning the Australian Open, and finishing runner up and a SF appearance this year. So they ought to play Bhupati with Sania in the mixed doubles. So far, Sania has been discrete, as have the men, leaving the decision making on AITA. But one gets a feeling this one will be a tough nut to crack for the AITA. Lets see, who walks away with the prize?

Limitless

Perseverance has no limits, as I found out today,
it only has meaning, if you never go astray.

Keep chippin' away at the stone,
even if it don't seem to move an inch,
cause you never know when,
you are just a push away.


If you give up prematurely,
you ain't never gonna know the whole story,
and all you would be left wondering with,
is what could have been?

Got a problem? Form a Committee!

The nation has been rocked recently with the news of three BJP MLAs in Karnataka caught watching pornographic clips and photographs on a mobile phone, whilst exercising their "duties" in one of the so called temples of our democracy - the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Not even the fiercest advocates of free expression or free will would argue for this shameful act - do it in your house, in your bedroom, fine! But the legislative assembly! C'mon!! Even a teenager with raging hormones would know not to indulge in such liberties in a public place, leave alone THE state legislative assembly!!!! And we thought watching images of politicians dozing off in the Parliament with open mouths, throwing shoes and mikes on each other, scuffling and slapping, was proof enough that we are being governed by a bunch of immature kids, who have no sense of responsibility to the country whatsoever. But what the heck, we are the ones who put em' there, aren't we?

So anyway, the ironic twist in this incident is that it involves MLAs from a right-wing party, associates of which have taken up the "honorable" task of moral policing in our country, by going after couples cosying up in parks, vandalizing shops and terrorizing couples on Valentine's Day, attempting to chastise women for dressing up "inappropriately" or going to discos and pubs. Yes, its the very state where women were beaten up for going to a disco or bar (not really sure what was it), by members (oh sorry, I believe the word is hooligans!) of the "Sri Ram Sena" - a right wing group which has taken upon itself the burden of preserving Indian culture, tradition and values in this particular state of Karnataka. And what's more, the main miscreant in this "porngate" once gave a statement implying that women who don't dress appropriately invite rape. I wonder if he was checking that theory out? His laughable justification for this act, according to an article in The Hindu was that the video clippings had women dancing and they were raped by four men. He said, "Palemar told me such things happen abroad in rave parties. Since the House was discussing the Malpe rave party, I watched it...... Just watching it is not a crime." Tell me if this doesn't make you laugh out loud, you know, once you overcome the burning indignation at the stupidity of that statement. To top it all, he "rules out" resigning over the issue. The party has condemned it, isolated itself from the incident and says it was a personal act by the MLAs and not representative of the party. Though it is true, but for a party that demands the resignation of a different Congress leader every other week, its shameful that it refuses to suspend these three offenders from their posts, leave alone the party!

But the thing about all this that really got me worked up was the response of the speaker, which was to "form a committee" to investigate the issue and file a report by March 13. I mean .... What is there to investigate? What will the in-house "committee" do? Sit around, joke about the whole thing, have tea and snacks and go home? What else is there to do except suspend the three offenders, which the speaker can do, and make sure that they do not see the insides of the House ever again? The solution to every crisis in India, it seems, is to form a committee. Whether its riots, or a multi-billion scam, or something as trivial as this one - just form a Committee - or loosely translated as - buy time to subtly push everything under the rug. How many of these committees have ever actually led to an outcome? I bet if they were asked to answer this question, they'll probably set up another committee to probe this issue!