Love, a beautiful experience...!

Love is not just an important and integral part of life. It is as well a beautiful experience that makes you learn and hence gain the most important and useful trait, patience.  

Problems and life... Take Home #260

Though problems make life miserable at times, they are the ones that make life interesting all the times.

With you my love...!

Being there for each other,

Caring for each other,

Struggling for each other,

In every step of this journey,

Enjoying every moment,

With you my love,

Life appears too good to be true,

Too valuable to be valued.

 

Straight trees... Take Home #259

Straight trees are the ones to get cut first. Incidentally or eventually, they have been the most useful ones for the human civilizations since years.

That's why they say, "All depends on how you see it".

Tough times... Take Home #258

Tough times show you who has time for you!

Calmness... Take Home #257

Calmness rules the mind; mind rules the rest. keeping up the calmness of mind is important to rule the life. And that's an art. An art worth learning and practicing, although not easy.

Existence of anyone!

Existence of anyone is evident with the work he or she does. The moment one starts trying to prove his or her existence, it means either the work being done is not evident enough or it's a deep wish to bring the work into limelight more than deserving. 

The possibility of helplessness cannot be ruled out when someone decides to prove his or her existence. But there are royal ways to bring one's own work into limelight. And the first and foremost prerequisite is to be strong enough to be able to face the unfair for a certain duration. Hard work pays. Talent helps. Experience flourishes. Positive mindedness makes you breath easy. Consistency helps you getting rated the best just when required. 

Believing that the bad time will be over is important. But understanding the current situation and estimating the time-to-come is as well important to decide to take the path which leads to success. After all, building one's own life is his or her responsibility. Blaming someone else does not help at all, not just because people are different in nature but also because people have different priorities naturally. One cannot expect to get treated well always. One has to find ways, royal and inspiring ways of course, to succeed, to come out of the odds, to make his or her existence evident enough. 

Different colours exist. Each colour gets the importance it deserves. The only difference here is the colour itself cannot try to become important. It depends on the people who like it. But being humans, we have chance to try our best to succeed. Not everything depends on other people. It's you who can change the way things move.  History speaks the same. Take the names from history you want and be inspired. 

Satisfaction... Take Home #256

All that can keep and make you happy is the satisfaction that you gain during your tenure. Pick it as much as you can and try your best to leave no room for regrets.

Post No: 900 - Blog, one of the closest things to my heart!!!

Firstly, my sincere condolences to all the victims of the attacks of September 11' 2001. Along with the ones from the incidents happened in America, victims include the ones from Afghanistan from the post 11/7 incidents.
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Milestones keep people motivated just like the way records keep sportsmen inspired. When you are on the verge of achieving something, it's unbelievable if one says that he or she is not thinking about it! The only other greater possibility if someone says so is that they may be lying. Well, that's up to one's conscience how he or she wants to project himself or herself to the crowd. 

Leaving it there, let me move forward with this post, the 900th one that I do in this blog and about which I've been definitely thinking since past few days. I feel every pleasure in admitting to the same. 

It really feels so long that I did the last post with two zeros in it's number. Considering my writing pattern, it is long as well.  It's even more eventful this year, so far, compared to what I did say in the last post of 2012. A lot of things have been keeping me occupied. Nevertheless, I feel proud of myself for actively updating this space, which is one of the closest things to my heart, although I did not do any marathon posts throughout the year except in the past month. Thanks to IBL for all the fun it gave me while writing the posts during the last month. 

Few things I'd like to mention about my blog on this occasion: 

Ever since I started writing this blog, I have been finding a new me every time I post something here. Every post enables me to tell something to myself apart from expressing it to the world. Most of the take homes  I mentioned here exactly represent the series of incidents happened either on the same day or just few days before. During some of the lighter moments, when some of my friends asked me back about certain points I write here, I just walk past somehow by saying something round and round! Good friends, they don't pull me back to the topic! After reading this, if anyone of you would like do it in future, I'm sure I'm going to find a way out! Kidding, easy. 

The love I express here lets me fall in love again and again. The movie or book reviews that I write here make me feel proud of my observation power and sensitive nature, at certain instances, for being able to capture the finest of the fine moments and emotions. And what can I say about my posts on sports! Sport brings out the best emotions of mine. They have always made me a confident writer. I love writing about sports and players. 

Well, that's all for now in this 900th post. I hope to write the 1000th one very soon and definitely before the end of this year. Wish me all the best!!!

I've a special mention to be made here. It's about my all time favorite tennis player, the newly crowned United States Open Champion, Rafael Nadal. Hats off to him not just for the way he has played this season but also for passing through all the odds and coming out stronger than ever. A lot to learn and hence to execute as well. Will power is the best power human possesses. That makes the history and repeats it too. I'll write in detail about this in the posts to come later. 

I'm signing off for now. Thanks to you for being here and reading this. Readers inspire the writers the most.

The song, of my heart...

As I feel the warmth in your words, 

My heart starts singing from within.

I often fell in love with the song of my heart,

Only to realize the whopping love from within.

And why not I say, although it's famous,

Love makes life beautiful.

What else matters! ... Take Home #255

It feels great when you accomplish something without taking any big one's name to your use! Later, it feels even better as you start realizing your own capabilities. 

What else matters!

Stretch your psychological dimensions and feel the greatness.

Argue, with right intentions!

Arguments may bore you, even bother you. But when certain decisions are being taken and you rightly believe that you can provide useful or impacting inputs, you must go ahead to every possible extent of arguments and put forward your views. 

After all, decisions may impact many people; you can be one of them too. Never ever be quiet thinking that you may be understood wrong or aggressive. Being understood as wrong does not necessarily mean that you are wrong; and being aggressive is nothing wrong at all, as long as your intention to be aggressive is towards getting the decisions right. 

To be sarcastic... Take Home #254

It does not even take a minute to be sarcastic about something to someone. But to take it back and set things alright again, especially when you are wrong in your part, it may take longer than ever at times. Better to avoid being sarcastic altogether; you never know when your understanding can go wrong amidst the increasing complexities of life styles and thought processes of people. Moreover, there is nothing to lose if you do not be sarcastic. 

Life does not remain the same always!

Life does not remain the same always. 

Be it difficulties or easy-takes, 

Accept that, every door has to be walked through; 

Believe that, clouds of every color have to fly away.

Life does not remain the same always. 

Be brave and hopeful.

Reach out to the people... Take Home #253

Reach out to the people through smile, through words from heart. Relationships make life meaningful. Spending time to maintain the same is as important as to spend time on any daily routine.

I write for IBL #8 - It's Hotshots, the champions of inaugural IBL

To me, badminton used to be a different sport from that of cricket/tennis etc. The come backs and fight backs although used to be there but the number of such instances used to be less compared to the other sports named in the beginning. Today's IBL final has changed this opinion of mine to some extent, especially the last match which was won by Ajay fighting back from no where! Of course, another opinion of mine got stronger. And that's about what pressure at high level sport can do for you. Sai Dutt was pulling it away almost. The moment his opponent fought back, he lost his way, it seemed. Anyway, that's sport and sportsmen and sportswomen have to go through this. Meanwhile, I think even the audience have to go through at times!

Saina again thrashed Sindhu's game, who once again played invariably low standard game today, if I may say so! Well, long way to go for both the players. All the very best for the seasons to come. Markis Kido and Boe have hardly made a step wrong in the whole IBL and in the final, it was the Malaysian duo caught them on their wrong foots on crucial points. I must confess, I was so disappointed to see the AW pair struggling. Again, pressure ended the match on HH's side. I must say, well played Sreekanth. Markis Kido will continue to be one of my favorite players. Champions lose too! That's sport. 

Congratulations to Hyderabad Hotshots! Well played and much deserving win for the final day's play especially! 

Before I end this post, I'd like to do a special mention about the Hot Shots' iconic player, Saina Nehwal. She is the lady behind India's success streak in badminton in the recent years. Being an iconic player, having been playing amidst the crowd all supporting her, playing against the strong opponents, she has done a fantastic and inspiring job by winning all the seven matches of the tournament to be the only player unbeaten so far in IBL having played in all the ties of a team. All credit goes to her strong will and fighting spirit. Well done Saina, we all love you! Keep up the spirit. 

PS: Just one more post to go to end it for this season. I've been enjoying writing about the game which is the new pie of India's crush list! 

An art worth practicing... Take Home #252

Opinions are majorly built with one's own perceptions. Respect the opinionated to the point that they are open in expressing their thoughts for you.  Nevertheless, sensing the correctness of others' opinions is an art worth practicing. 

I write for IBL #7 - The countdown for the finale!

Besides being happy about IBL reaching its final stage, I'm exhilarated about the same two teams reaching the finals of the inaugural league, whom I picked as favorites for the final two couple of days back. It's all set for the final between the Awadhe Warriors and Hyderabad Hotshots at Mumbai. Now, it's just the countdown!

The one-sider semi final-I ...

The first semi final between HH and PP seemed to me as if it's the only one-sider tie of the whole league. Hotshots proved not just too hot but also too uplifted in spirits for the Pune Pistons. Ajay Jayram played one of the most memorable match amidst the encouraging home-crowd. As he was going through the game of his strong opponent, future for Indian badminton felt very exciting. Saina Nehwal once again proved too tough for Schenk to get through. What interested me the most was her never-die attitude and pressure handling capability. You play on your home soil, in front of your home crowd, amidst the shouts of your name by the audience, your opponent comes back from steep difference, and you still continue to captivate on your own concentration and game plan! That's not everyone's cup of tea. Saina did capitalized on her lead and came out with flying colors at the end to win the match and also the lead in the tie. Men's doubles appears as if  the PP would extend the tie to the fourth game but unfortunately not. Three match to love ensured the cancellation of the rest of the game including the much awaited one between Ashwini and Saina in the mixed doubles. It would have been interesting, definitely. 

Semi final-II, impressive one...

As the first semi final could not impress much, the second semi final between AW and MM entertained throughout. Lee won the first game to take Mumbai to a match lead. Such soon surrendering was not expected from Sai Dutt.  But soon India's latest teenage sensation, Sindhu, brought it down to one-one. Sindhu's confidence level and shot/placement selection was beautiful. She executed the game plan as easily as if she was drawing something on paper. Full control and deception were the key factors behind her win. Well, Tine Baun got hurt with hamstring but still, Sindhu's game convinced me to say that she could have done the same even if Tine was in her best of the best forms.  Sreekanth once again almost did it for his team but Ivanon played superbly to win it away. Mixed double choice of MM surprised me. Ivanon just played the singles and immediately he had to be back on court with his injured partner Tine Baun. It was Markis Kido and his sister's deception that won the match and eventually the tie for AW. It's very nice to see this brother-sister partnership on the court. 

The Finale...

After the first league match between Saina and Sindhu, many fans would have thought, why there was no second league match like IPL and only one league matc between two teams? The road to finale for HH and AW was not straight but as they are going to play it one last time in the IBL for the beautiful cup glittering in gold, there is a tough road ahead for both of them. HH have been stronger team and AW have a deserving side to them to reach the finals. 

So, that's all before the finale. One last thing to share, I'll support Awadhe Warriors tomorrow, not just for Sindhu but as well for Markis Kido. To me, warriors appear stronger as a team. Hotshots of course are fighters lead by their iconic player Saina, who is known for her stronger fight-backs. All in all, it will be an interesting tie, for one last time for this season of IBL. 

All the best, may the best play entertain us! 

I write for IBL #6 - All that helps you winning is your display of play

On the fine Sunday evening and the day 10 of the inaugural IBL, Krrish Delhi Smashers  thrashed Banga Beats to keep their hopes alive to reach the final four. The long wait to watch Jwala and Diju together on the court ended same day. And they had not thrashed the hoped of their team. They won and won it in style, I mean, the tense style to drag it to the decider game. Women's singles between these two teams was another nail biter. For the first time, I saw Carolina Marin getting to tense moments on the court, and that too to let the umpire show her an yellow card. Jindapon played her best. Her smile is addicting.

AW and PP played one of the tournament's best ties. Sindhu's performance was convincing enough and a much required not just for her team for herself as well. Schenk once again proved too competitive to be playing against. At her age, with her experience she was near to deceptive  for Sindhu. I always wanted to watch a 20-20 winning shots. In this particular match, not just me but every fan with similar wish could get to watch two back to back 20-20 winning shots and too by same player. Well done Sindhu and Schenk. Srikanth played a confident match against his Indian counterpart. Markis Kiddo, as I already mentioned, he is one of the reasons why I'm slightly towards AW for the title win. His two outings in the middle in the two doubles games have been the most important and helping ones for the warriors. AW won it and they are in the semis now.

HH playing in Hyderabad today amidst the home crowd. I must admit, out of all venues, Hyderabad crowd and especially the ones sitting in the audience today have been the most noisy. Literally could not hear anything what the umpire was saying! When Saina was on the court, needless to say, they were all in full spirits. Ying played it her best. In fact she fought for the match. Saina had to sweat it out till the end. What interested me more than the game was the coaches of Banga Beats. Knowing that they were already out of the tournament, the way they encouraged the teenager was inspiring and a lot to learn from that. Kashyap sat emotionless. Understandable. A lot was expected out of him not just by BB but by his fans as well. He tried his best and every time he lost, he lost for a better play if not better player. He will come back and has to. 

So, with the result of the Men's singles match itself, HH entered the semi finals topping the table. They will be back to play the semi finals tomorrow in front of the home crowd once again. Not just crowd's support, it seems they have a lot of other sources support as well. Anyway, all that helps you winning the matches is your display of play. 

All the best to all four teams to enter to the top two contest; AW, PP, HH and MM. Three more ties to go and we will have the winner's name inscribed onto the beautiful trophy. Wait for that day is on anyway. Before that, waiting to enjoy the two ties. 

Finally, I've reached a conclusion on whom to support for the title. Yes, its for AW and HH to be the final two. Let's see how it happens in next two days! 

Taking things sportively... Take Home #251

Taking things sportively and not easily does not just let you challenge back any circumstances, it allows you to be competitive under pressure as well. 

Winning move... Take Home #250

There can be a wide spectrum of reasons behind the complements or criticism you receive. Instead of losing time by trying to unravel the reasons, spending time on estimating the genuineness of what people tell you and hence to improvise yourself can prove to be a wise and winning move!

Special Prizes...!

Every prize we receive after winning a competition makes us happy. Some prizes stay special, not just because of the way we win but also because of the person from whom we receive. 

I write for IBL #5 - Play as if nothing to lose and go for a thrilling win!

It feels that the Indian Badminton League has just begun now and there is a team which has completed all its league stage matches already! This game of speed is also speeding up toward the semi final clashes of the league. If there can be any major upsets of the tournament they usually happen towards the end, as a loss here in a must win tie for team can mean an ouster. And for the other team, if it is already out of the semi final race, it's like an giant-killing opportunity to play to lose nothing. I hope we get to see such today between KDS and BB. KDS has nothing lose here and BB under pressure in front of the home crowd. It's 1 on 1 at the moment.

PP v/s BB and AW v/s MM

Earlier this week end Anup Sridhar caused a major upset for the BB winning against Hu Yun. He played one of his finest matches so far. There after Pune Pistons showed no mercy to win the rest of the three matches of the tie. However, the win in the mixed doubles by BB was a consolation. 

The next day Awadhe Warriors stormed to a much needed victory against the tired-looking Mumbai Masters. Sindhu has come in to form at a right time. She won the match for her team and much needed confidence for herself. Tine Baun appeared restless on the court. Well, on the other side of the court Sindhu continued to dominate. Srikanth played surprisingly well against the world number one, Lee. That's what happens when you forget the rest and play as if nothing to lose. I wish everyone of us can live our lives as if there is nothing to lose! Tougher to do. Well done Srikanth. Markis Kido is my new favorite player. I didn't much see him in action earlier. IBL has made me love his game. The way he covers the court and the way he takes the whole responsibility of the court, of his partners, of the game has mesmerized me. He and his sister and mixed doubled partner Pia have done it just at the right time for their team, Awadhe Warriors, to keep them very much in the contest.

Commentary!!! a lot need to get improved!

One area where the IBL needs a much more improvement is it's commentary box! It must be about analyzing the game, players and along with that it must also be about keeping the personal choices apart, like supporting a specific player or team. I hope they will improve as earlier as possible. I must mention an example. Commentator praises the judgement of the player at the receiving end of the service for leaving the shuttle thinking that it's a wrong serve. The chair umpire gives it to the serving team as that's correct serve. Immediately commentator starts praising the player's serve that it's a superb one! All it needs is to take some time and speak out and not to say it for the sake of it. Well, its understandable that it's just the matter of time that the commentary box gets improve; as I'm writing about it here, it's my responsibility to be bring it out.

Watching the matches late night...

Another point that I would like to make is the timing of the matches. Take the case of today, now its already 11'o clock and we are just at the third game of the men's doubles match! Two more matches to go of the tie! Yes, we watch cricket even if it goes till late night or if it starts pretty earlier to the dawn. And that's because of the way the players, teams have made the audience helpless over the years by performing their best on the international stage and because they have made their audience feel proud of their teams. Watching them play has become a pleasure, an honor at times. Audience will watch the matches but it's the primary responsibility of the players to bring the audience to the matches and that can be done only by performing well in their respective sport. Badminton is cruising well in India at the moment. But it will at least take a couple of years from now to become an anytime-watcher sport, provided the heroics of the players continue at the international level. Hopefully, by the time of next league, either audience would stay back late to watch the matches or the IBL schedule gets modified. I hope and wish the former becomes true.

The difference... Take Home #249

The difference between living life until death and continuing to stay alive after death is the choices we make and the decisions we take. 

Proud of you girls!!!

One more reason to wait for the 2016 Olympics at the Rio. 

Congratulations to the Indian women archery team for winning the successive world cup gold in the recurve event. They arrowed-down the Olympic Champions, the team from Korea, in the final. Well fought. 

Deepika Kumari, Rimil Buriyuli and Bombayla Devi... Proud of you girls!!!