Boria Majumdar in Dubai
Botswana, a country with a population less than my neighbourhood in Kolkata, won the gold medal – yes, gold medal – in the 4x400m relay at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. It is an astounding feat when you think of the resources, and the population of the country. The quartet – Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi – are, justly, national heroes. In their honour, the country has declared a national holiday today, with the President calling for celebrations.
This is what sport can do. Put you on the global map, and call for nationwide celebrations. It unites a country like nothing else, and becomes a symbol of aspiration for the youth. Seeing these legends, the future generations will also take to running, for they now know that it is possible. They can be the best in the world, and be symbols of hope and success.
Contrast Botswana with Pakistan. And you know what I am speaking about. On the one hand are four men who have now united a country and stand for everything that is good. On the other hand are a bunch of young men, 16-17 years old, who will follow Haris Rauf and do airplane celebrations mocking India. And they will be hailed as social-media sensations by their media for an act which has one end result – ruin. If anyone can celebrate such a gesture from a 16 year old, I have only one word to describe such a person, and that’s delusional. He or she doesn’t have the interests of their own country at heart.
Pakistan doesn’t need to follow India. Just see the Botswana example, and guide your youth properly. Botswana is an eye-opener for us all. What sport can do, and the power it has. Maybe that’s why we all love it so much. And will continue to do so.
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