Jane Lloyd.’s Post

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL BIAS As I pen these few words, in a few minutes Novak Djokovic will play the defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final . A couple of days ago , a young Alcaraz played the cool Medvedev, and while the match progressed at brisk pace my emotions were with Alcaraz who had lost the first set. I wanted him to win this match and storm into the final. In the past many years of watching tennis I wouldn’t miss the Fab 3 playing- Rafa, Roger, and Joka in any Grand slam event. When Rafa played Federer my emotions and bias leaned towards Federer, while in a match between Jokovic & Rafa it shifted to Jokovic. Why - I wondered?? In an Olympic games or a World tournament of any sport where your nation is involved the rooting for your country is obvious. Despite knowing, that the best will win, you still tend to back your country. More out of hope than actual competence. However, in sporting events like a WC football tourney or a Grand slam in Tennis there is a tendency to back your emotional favourite. This made me curious  to know the logical or illogical reasons behind such a behaviour on display. What makes me back a Spain to beat Germany in a Euro football game or back the underdog playing a seeded player in tennis or badminton. Why did I want a Bjorn Borg to win all his games against John Mcnroe or want a Boris Becker to be my poster boy of tennis at the age of 19.? Psychologists might be able to deep dive into this and throw light. I pen a few thoughts based on my observations on such a behavior across sporting events. 1) Do we tend to back the underdog to upset a seeded player or a champion-? We rejoiced when Afghanistan beat Australia and NZ during their march to the semis in the recent WC. 2) Are our emotions driven by our childhood experiences of wanting the abrasive player or a combative team knocked out by a calmer and ice cool competitor?  3) Are we governed by a herd mentality to back the obvious winner in any sporting battle? 4)What is that emotion which prevents me to be more unbiased and objective in my assessment while I judge competing players or teams? 5) Is this behaviour true only for Indians or does the world of humanity suffer from the same predicament. Why don’t we say let the best guy win or the best team win.. It will be interesting to know the reasons for such a behavior or the psychological bias as I would love to call this.  As I end this, my heart leans towards the defending champion Alcaraz to retain his title while I still long for Jokovic to put up a fight. May the best guy win…….  

It’s Monday morning. Most of us are getting to work while some of our athletes did their work putting Indian on global map. Served a reminder that winning when your odds are against you is a superpower. And i’m not talking about cricket. Puja Tomar became the first Indian to win a fight at UFC. And this was her debut match. From a family of farmers in UP she lost her father at young age and took up mixed martial sports at age six for self-defense and empowerment. Won many medals for India and is a six time national Wushu champion. “I decided to let people say whatever they wanted. It just made me practice harder to show them that girls can do martial arts and they don’t depend on men.” This is Puja saying why she does combat sports. Sanjivani Jadhav won the 10,000m at Portland Track meet in US finishing in 32 mins 22 secs. That’s 3min & 14 sec/ kilometre for 10km. Most of us can’t run 100m at that pace. And she won this competing against world class athletes and Olympians. Last year she dint have any financial support and had to pay for her training in US to prepare for the Asian Champs where she won Bronze. No support from federation or anyone. Sumit Nagal is currently India no. 1 singles player in tennis and yesterday won the Heilbronner Neckarcup ATP challenger. This is a big win and gives him a chance to go to Paris Olympics next month. Earlier this year he just had bank balance of less than Rs. 80,000 and was struggling to get financial support. He is now back in the circuit winning and competing against the best in the game. Why these win matters? Why such athletes matters?  A sport like MMA is a brutal. Just getting inside the octagon needs superhuman mental and physical strengths.  Tennis and Athletics has to be more than Roger Federer and Usain Bolt of us. It’s easier to create life lessons from these global stars. Much harder to talk about our own athletes because our own media and community doesn’t talk about them. Grit and determination is a common fuel every athlete survives on. Some make it to stardom others continue to fight out every day. https://x.com/kmr_dilip

“To be successful at anything you don’t have to be special…” These wonderful words from Tom Brady are inspiring…and not true. To be successful at some things (but not all things) you do have to be special. You, the reader, would probably have never successfully won the men’s or women’s Olympic 100 metres sprint by being consistent, determined, and hard working. To win the Olympic 100 metres you do have to be a very special sprinter. For most, but not all, Tom Brady’s proposal that consistency, determination, and hard work are key…won’t be enough! You, the reader, would probably have never amassed a greater winning haul of tennis trophies than Serena Williams or Novak Djokovic irrespective of how consistent, determined, and hard working you had been. That success would have likely alluded you. Both Serena and Novak are very special at tennis…very special indeed…and no amount of consistency, determination, and hard work will help most people (but not all people) reach their level. I can safely say that no matter how consistent, determined, and hard working I had been I would never have been a Booker Prize winner, or a Cambridge Professor of Mathematics, or an orchestral violinist (I played the violin from age 3-13 and was quite hopeless!!!) Success in these areas (and many more) would have evaded me. The fact is, many people on planet earth are very special indeed…very special at certain, specific things. Tiger Woods nearly beat John Daly when he was 13. Lionel Messi was insanely good very young. These two competitors had a number of special ingredients that enabled them to be good early and to carry on improving to become the very best around. The fact is, some people are very special at some things. And that’s ok. And it might be that you do have to be very special to successfully become the very best in the world. And that’s ok to. Tom Brady was (probably) very special. And perhaps he just cannot see that. Ambitious young players in all sports may need to hear this. It’s permissible to dream big whilst also having an understanding that those dreams may remain as they are…just dreams. Ambitious young players in all sports may need to hear this because such an outlook can unshackle and unburden. You cannot force being a champion and you cannot guarantee success in any sport no matter how consistent, determined, and hard working you are. In fact, the more you try to force things, the worse things can get. So worry not! Worry not! My message to them? Strive to discover how good you can be by being consistent, determined, and hard working (as Tom says). But recognise that this may not be enough. In fact, it probably won’t be. And that’s ok. The consistency, determination, and hard work will leak and spill into other areas of life that help you be successful in areas that match your abilities and capabilities. And that’s ok! I wish Tom was right. But he’s not. And his message isn’t quite as helpful as some might think.

🌟 “From Boundaries to Goals: Lessons from T20 World Cup & Euro 2024” 🏆 T20 World Cup Recap. SA vs. WI: South Africa’s nail-biting win against West Indies reminds us that every run counts. Sometimes, it’s the last over that defines victory. How can we apply this grit to our daily challenges? ENG vs. USA: England’s flawless performance against the USA teaches us that teamwork and strategy matter. Even when the odds seem stacked, a united effort can turn the game around. Who’s your team in life? AFG vs. AUS: Afghanistan’s 21-run triumph over Australia proves that underdogs can shine. It’s not about the size of the opponent; it’s about heart and determination. What’s your “underdog” story? IND vs. BAN: India’s 50-run victory against Bangladesh showcases individual brilliance (hello, H. Pandya!). Sometimes, one standout moment can change the game. What’s your game-changing move? 🌍 Euro 2024 Highlights: Scotland vs. Hungary: Scotland’s heartbreaking defeat reminds us that setbacks are part of the journey. It’s how we bounce back that defines us. What’s your bounce-back strategy? Switzerland vs. Germany: A thrilling draw between neighbours – resilience in adversity. When life throws curveballs, can you adjust your game plan? Adaptability is key. Belgium vs. Romania: Belgium’s 2-0 win – precision and consistency. Small victories add up. Celebrate progress, no matter how incremental. What’s your “two-goal” moment? 🔥 Motivation Challenge: Please share your favorite sports moment and how it inspires you. Tag a friend who embodies resilience. Let’s build a winning mindset together! 💪 Remember, life’s a match, and we’re all players. Let’s keep swinging for the fences and scoring those goals – on and off the field! 🚀 Your turn: What’s your personal “trophy” moment? Share below! 👇 #Sportsmanship #Resilience #Teamwork #VictoryMindset #ACIS

Did you know #Cricket was once an #Olympic sport? 🏏 The Great Game between two eternal rivals: One hundred twenty four years ago, precisely in Paris, two teams competed for the Olympic Gold medal in Cricket in a two day test format.. and guess who won? Great Britain bagged the eternal Cricket Gold in Olympics (and ironically, the hosts won the Silver, never seen a French cricket team in my lifetime though...) 🇮🇳 Two Olympic medals for India: Why was this year even more noteworthy for India? India sent its very own Olympic athlete,  lone athlete Norman Pritchard won not one, but two medals – both silver – in athletics and became the first Asian nation to win an Olympic medal! 🏑 The Magician and the magic: In addition, with Sir Dorabji Tata's patronage, India sent their first team to Olympics in 1920... and history knows it best, we scored 6 consecutive Golds for Hockey continuing till 1956, a record feat for securing team Gold medals at that time...also note anecdotally, even Hitler was so impressed by our very own Sir Dhyan Chand that he was willing to give him German citizenship at the Berlin Olympics of 1936! ⁉ The Perennial question: Despite the largest population, and the mathematical odds of winning Olympics, why do we perform so dismally? Only two hypothesis: 1) Cricket has not been an Olympic sport: The only sport in India that is given the due commercial investment it deserves (maybe a bit inflated now) is Cricket, and tying back to my first point, Cricket will only debut in 2028 LA Olympics now... 2) Conditional Probability: While our odds may be the highest, our social conditioning reduces our odds of winning heavily. Let's be honest, you cannot win an Olympic medal based on talent alone, this talent needs nurturing from a very young age. Look at these three from the current tally: 🇨🇳 China: Known to train kids as young as 4 in military style win at all cost training. Intense coaches, even more intense training.. 🇦🇺 Australia: Being beside the ocean has some benefits, and the climate and space for the two time host is pretty conducive (soon 3 time hosts in 2032 Brisbane); but it is the generous funding provided by the government, culture of swimming (where they historically won a lot of their medals) and the competitive attitude that actually play the pivotal part. 🇺🇸 USA: The Host with the most: While it is rich, gives the right training at the right age, and is naturally competitive...the biggest stat I found was that USA gives funding to its women athletes! The biggest differentiator is that by Title IX, a law that requires colleges to give equal funding to women's sports. This creates an epic pipeline of opportunity for girls to discover their athletic potential in multiple sports... and that my friends is conditional probability at its best: we know we are funding the sports equally, what are the odds that we will win them equally, considering they are dependent events? #equalfunding #womensports #support

Sports activities in India and it's position in World: Sports in India encompass a wide variety of activities, with cricket being the most popular. However, other sports like football, badminton, hockey, wrestling, boxing, kabaddi, and athletics are also gaining ground. 1. Cricket Popularity: Cricket is the most followed sport in India, with millions of fans. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the richest and most popular cricket leagues in the world. Achievements: India has won the Cricket World Cup twice (1983, 2011) . Global Standing: India is a dominant force in international cricket, often ranking in the top teams in both Test and One-Day formats. 2. Field Hockey Popularity: Hockey has a rich tradition in India, and it was once the national sport. Achievements: India has won 8 Olympic gold medals in field hockey. Global Standing: India's hockey team has seen a resurgence in recent years, with the men's team winning a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 3. Badminton Popularity: Badminton is growing rapidly in India, with many youngsters taking up the sport. Achievements: Indian players like P. V. Sindhu and Saina Nehwal have made significant achievements. Global Standing: India has become a significant force in global badminton. 4. Football Popularity: Football has a strong following in certain parts of India. Achievements: India has qualified for the AFC Asian Cup several times but has yet to make a significant mark globally. Global Standing: The Indian Super League (ISL) has brought increased attention to Indian football. 5. Kabaddi Popularity: Kabaddi is a traditional Indian sport that enjoys widespread popularity, especially in rural areas. Achievements: India has won numerous gold medals in the Asian Games and other international kabaddi tournaments. Global Standing: India is the most dominant country in kabaddi. 6. Wrestling and Boxing Popularity: These sports are popular in rural areas and are gaining more visibility with the success of Indian athletes . Achievements: India has produced several Olympic medalists in wrestling. 7. Athletics Popularity: Athletics has been growing in popularity, especially after India's recent successes in events like javelin through. 8. Tennis Popularity: Tennis enjoys a niche following in India, with some players like Leander Paes and Sania Mirza bringing international attention. India’s Position in World Sports: Strengths: India has strong representation in cricket, kabaddi, badminton, wrestling, and field hockey. Challenges: Despite its large population, India’s global sports achievements have been limited outside of a few disciplines. The lack of infrastructure, funding. Emerging Trends: The rise of leagues like IPL (cricket), ISL (football), and Pro Kabaddi, along with government initiatives like Khelo India, is helping boost sports participation. India's sports scene is evolving, and it is working towards building a more significant presence.

Dear Usain, You know I'm one of your biggest fans, right? So much so that I've got 9.58 tattooed on mi back-foot 🇯🇲(joke). But seriously, you rarely in my opinion put a foot wrong, except that is, on this issue. No👇🏾 Sprinting is literally not in Jamaican blood or Jamaican DNA. It is not a legacy of the survival of the fittest African slaves or some other natural selection evolutionary process. Sprinting is in Jamaican culture. Former Jamaican Prime Minister Norman Manley - one of Jamaica's leading lawyers - would have qualified for the 100 metres final in the 1908 and 1912 Olympics (his island schoolboy record stood from 1911 until 1952). Sprinting is in Jamaican culture much the same way rugby union is in Kiwi culture, football is in Brazilian culture and table tennis (and diving) is in Chinese culture. Australians arguably have a greater sporting culture than the British. Every single equestrian I have ever seen is white. That's not DNA that's culture (race and class culture). There was a cultural shift in West Indian cricket which saw the once invincible West Indies cricket team plummet down the cricket world rankings. We're all hard pressed to name a current West Indian cricketer. Yet we can all reel off the names of Sir Garfield Sobers, Viv Richards, Michael Holding, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and more latterly Brian Lara. Usain, the demise in the 1990s was not due to a reduction in quality West Indian cricketing DNA, but due to a cultural shift much the same way we have seen a cultural shift in USA heavyweight boxing. The centre of heavyweight boxing is no longer the USA but Europe. This has nothing to do with a dearth of quality USA boxing DNA. I posit that the NFL and NBA are the main beneficiaries of this cultural shift. The Japanese are no longer the judo kings, the black French are. Black French judokas like the legendary Teddy Riner now rule much to angst of the Japanese who invented the martial art. A cultural shift. And by the same token a cultural shift in the future will result in Jamaica losing the title of sprint capital of the world. It's not DNA it's culture. It's Jamaican schoolboys and schoolgirls dreaming that one day they will emulate you. That's culture. Usain, so why is this so important? When we begin to buy into genetic explanations for sporting achievements, we then readily buy into genetic explanations for educational and other non-sporting achievements. I shake my head at scientists and theorists seeking to explain Jamaican sprint dominance with all manner of complex and highfalutin theories from the ACE gene, fast muscle twitch fibres and the island's aluminium ore deposits, when it's simply a matter of culture. The concept of being genetically predisposed to excelling or failing in any human pursuit is inherently racist. I hope you understand what I'm saying Usain. Wishing you all the best (btw athletics is missing you badly). Yours sincerely Terence (your number one fan)

The curious case of Zlatan Ibrahimovic Some players are geniuses, others eccentrics. Few are eccentric geniuses. Does the sky appear closer to taller men? Those at 6"5' perhaps can answer this question. What has this to do with the Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic? Ibrahimovic actually is that tall and was considered one of the best till his retirement recently. The question is - did he ever touch the sky? In terms of performance on the field, the answer perhaps is an overwhelming Yes. For his attitude, if the question is posed to him, the answer perhaps may be - I am so good that the sky actually bends down for me to touch. Ibrahimovic is such unique character. Let me explain this further. Ibrahimovic - one of the greatest Consider this - 500+ career goals, 34 trophies in his club career, 11 league titles in four separate countries, winner of several football accolades and was easily one of the top 10 greatest footballers at his peak. Such a player has an amazing opportunity to touch lives of people around him. Ibrahimovic has achieved this in a unique way too. Why was he considered unique? At the outset, this Taekwondo black belt combined the physical agility and balance achieved from martial arts with football training. The combination enabled him to score goals at will. Let me give you an example. In an international friendly against England in 2012 at one point, the English goal keeper Joe Hart drew himself out to clear a long ball. The goal post was unguarded for a few seconds. Precisely at that moment, Ibrahimovic hit a jaw-dropping air-borne bicycle kick and scored a stunning goal. That day he scored all four goals to win 4-2 over a hapless England. That was an audacious goal. I think even Ronaldo and Messi couldn't have done it better. Some more attributes Ibrahimovic was a very versatile player capable of adapting to different formations and known for his amazing skills, great strength and solid goal scoring ability. His personality - mesmerizing which made him a fan favourite. With him you get a feeling of absence of fear of failure. That confidence also helped him to win trophies playing for different clubs. An eccentric ... How? There is another side of his personality though which made him look eccentric, brash and arrogant. One easily gets a feeling that he considers himself bigger than the game. Once while playing for his club, he made a violent tackle on Marco Materazzi for which the opposition defender was hospitalized. Later he said - I had been waiting for four long years for revenge on Materazzi for the tackle he did on me. In another instance he punched defender Marco Rossi in the stomach and got a red card. There is always a thin line separating confidence and over confidence. But the unconventional player was always on the other side. Continued on the blog

Resilience and Triumph: Team India's 🇮🇳 Journey to T20 World Cup Glory 🏏🌟 In the grand narrative of sports, every setback serves as a prelude to potential triumphs. Today, as we celebrate Team India's remarkable win in the T20 World Cup, the adage "One has to step back two paces before taking a big leap" resonates more than ever. The journey hasn't been without its challenges. The defeats in the Test Championship and the ODI World Cup were tough pills to swallow. Yet, these moments of reflection were crucial. They were the two steps back that prepared Team India to leap forward with greater determination and focus. 🤔🔙 This victory is not just about the glory of the present moment; it's a narrative of resilience, learning from losses, and coming back stronger. It's a testament to the power of strategic recalibration and the relentless spirit of a team that refused to be defined by past defeats. 💪💥 In our own professional lives, let us take inspiration from this. Setbacks can be disheartening, but they are also opportunities to gather strength and make a winning leap forward. Let's celebrate this win as a reminder that perseverance, coupled with strategic pauses for reflection, can lead to spectacular success. 🚀🏆 Congratulations, Team India, for showing us that true champions are made by their response to challenges. Your victory is a masterclass in the art of the comeback! #TeamIndia #T20WorldCup #Resilience #Comeback #StrategicPlanning #CareerGrowth #SuccessMindset #21stcentury