What makes a champion?!

For one who was raised on a heady dose of Indian recurve archers flattering to deceive in Asiads and Olympics (after raising hopes in other events), Kumkum came as a revelation. She beat the World Nos. 3 and 4 in the semis and quarters, before taking down another Korean in a shoot-off. And all these matches (particularly the final) had her coming back in style. Very unlike our history, so very much new India.

The biggest part of her game was to keep cool under immense pressure, when plagued by the occasion, the opponent, or the fact that she was behind. And to top it all, my mind raced to the fact that she was all of only 17! So, is it true that youngsters are so designed these days. We have grown up thinking that more the years under your belt, the better designed you are to handle the pressure. Is that yet the same?

Back home as I look back at OfBusiness and Oxyzo, the trend extends to youngsters as well. (Inset) Our last (elected) 7 CXOs are a case in point. 6 CBOs and a CIRO, all with a median age of 32, with 8-9 years of professional experience, all at the firms.

And they too have this uncanny ability to take pressure, from all quarters. And still deliver while amidst it. From up close, I think they have 3 abilities in common –

1) They know that the pursuit is “do or die”;

2) They don’t pass it on, they soak it;

3) They are very hands on, they will do it themselves to get out of a tight spot.

And 3 traits in common – 1) they ain’t born with a silver spoon, 2) they each have a hero (and will be a hero to), one very similar to themselves, 3) they will always move onto next, treating each win as a preparation for the next one.

If you ain’t them, you ought to be. 

Once an OFBIan, forever one:

Asish Mohapatra

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