Sports & subcontinent
Last 2 weeks have been amazing for sport lovers in India. Commonwealth games and India-Australia Test series. Both provided enthralling contest and tight finishes. I really enjoyed see-saw battle for 2nd place in medals table between India & England. Hope some of this success translates into Olympic medals.
Talking about medals table, bbc provided
two interesting tables along with normal table. It showed population per medal & GDP per medal. India of course was very much at the bottom in both these tables, in spite of healthy medals tally and it was expected. We always lament about India's inability to get medals in spite of huge population. (Indian story has always been about volumes game n never per capita, especially in economy. But that's different story.)
So coming back to the medals table by population & GDP, 4 out of bottom 5 countries in both tables are India, Bangladesh, Pakistan & Sri Lanka. All south asian countries. Bangladesh is at bottom in both these tables with just 1 bronze medal with population of 160 million, 1/6th of India. Still they have managed just 1 bronze. Pakistan another country from subcontinent has won 5 medals, with 2 golds. What's the thing with south asian countries that they are unable to win medals in sporting competition? They are richer than African countries which regularly win medals, if that is an excuse. They are physically similar to Chinese, Koreans if physique is to be excuse. So where lies the problem? Is it just that sport is not part of culture in subcontinent? Question to ponder about!
Labels: musings, sport, views
Things are not always black & white
Though about writing some random stuff on blog after long time. This may be written out of my passion for European sports.
IPL also has this tie-breaker 1-over thing when match is tied, on the lines of American sports. I wonder why there should be some decider to get ultimate winner. Why can't we accept that two teams were matched throughout the match, say based on skills, so that the contest resulted in draw.
That's what happens in football leagues. You often hear the expressions like- Teams were so very well matched that draw is fair result, Our team played well & we deserved a point, if not 3. So the point system provides opportunity for teams to be matched & at the same time discourages draws by giving 2 teams 1 points instead of 3 for winning. Of course there are instances where decision has to be made, when penalty shootouts are introduced. But those are exceptional Cup competitions n normal service resumes in League games. So for most part of season, there is fair opportunities for teams to be matched.
Is there any compulsion that matches have to be decided one way or the other? Things are always not black & white! Neither in sports, nor in life!
Labels: jlt, musings, sport
Too many things to do!
The number of things, I do on daily basis keep on increasing, both online & offline.
First, when I used to go online, my only purpose used to be check mails. Now, I have to check mails, check out social networking sites (I am trying to increase my facebook usage, but don't really get time), check google reader. I have to read blogs (n write sometimes as well), search n read lots of useless stuff, watch videos. So many things to do online.
Coming to other things, the number of newspapers n magazines that I wish to read has increased. The number of movies I have to watch keeps on piling, so does the number of books I want to read. There are many TV shows n football matches worth watching. Podcast is another thing which has crept in my life now ( One more thing to do). There is also incessant chatting n reading news on net continues.
Apart from these daily routines, there are many things you have to do. Meeting friends, going to restaurants, social functions (which I actually rarely attend)...the list goes on.
And of course, there is job that you have to do, to keep all these things going.
Day (or should I say life) is really small! So many things to do!
Labels: musings
Looking back at 2006!
When 2006 started, I had no idea where I would be ending this year. Whether I would be in US doing MS or in Mumbai or in any other Indian city, I had no clue. And here I am, once again sitting at my home cozily and writing blog at the end of the year.
The year ended on a great note. Yesterday, there was a remeet of DJites and even couple of MSites turned up. It was great to meet old (not that old though!) friends.
At the start of the year I was really confused about what to do in future. But finally I opted for MBA. So many things have changed after joining JB. I have started reading business newspapers n magazines. I am exposed at the world about which I had no idea before. I am exploring things which I never knew existed. And I have become more aware of brands, products.Good that I opted for JB! Over the last 6 months, I have become much more optimistic about future. My favourite dialogue- 'Kantala aalay' (Pratim must be remembering this) has almost disappeared. Great change, I guess!
Around the world, Indian business scenario is becoming more and more positive. Great year for India Inc., which I was more able to gauge after reading all the business stuff. On the sporting scene ManU is having rocking season and are destined to win EPL this season. Maybe CL and FA Cup as well.
Overall a great year. Hoping to have even bigger and better 2007!
Labels: musings
some more musings!
I posted on Friday and hoped that I would be able to write regularly, as it was supposed to be vacation time. But last two days I had been attending presentations from morning to evening (yes, on 24th and 25th December :( ) and will be doing the same tomorrow as well. An excellent way to start your vacations, isn't it?
But we will be getting decent holidays, so hoping to get a much needed break. But it's vacation time for most of my friends and it's a remeeting time! Last Saturday I met Keli, Swanand, Jadhav and Pama after a long time and had a great time, especially with Keli's all football gyan. At the same time, Omkar, Bhagyesh and Kaustubh were hanging together in Stony brook. Just today, Priyank told me he is in Ithaca, with Isan n co. Time for friends to meet, wherever they are around the globe. vacation times are really wonderfull. Let's hope such vacations will continue in future!
Strange that I have written something on this topic. Usually topics of my posts are not like this. I prefer to write on issues. But somehow this struck me. Maybe some things have changed after joining B-school!
Labels: musings
