I have often read that the great champions have had humble beginnings, which carries on forward as they become they best at their sport. Wednesday - 19 April 2017, a bright and sunny afternoon in New Delhi at the R.K. Khanna Tennis Stadium was an evening which proved this.
A chance post on Facebook, led to me inbox Roland Garros and express an interest to meet Arantxa Sanchez Vicario. Having spent most of the early 1990’s watching and admiring Steffi Graf, I was well aware of how competitive and tough an opponent Arantxa was for Steffi. I have sat through cliff hanger finals of the French Open and Wimbledon between these two. The chance for the kids and me to meet a champion like Arantxa was not to be missed.
We got the call and the time and day was intimated. Now my kids have no clue about Arantxa – they know Federer, Rafa and Djokovic. But I gave them a download and sure enough were excited to meet Arantxa. On the drive down they even brushed up their Spanish to impress her 😊 . As we entered the DLTA, figuring out where we had to go, we bumped into guess who !!!- Dipa Karmakar. Yes, the champion who brought laurels to India by being the first Indian to compete in Gymsastics and attempting the death defying Produnova. We were stunned to see and meet her. She is so petite and pretty. She was walking out, with no airs of a champion, like you and me, smiling and acknowledging who ever recognised her. With my kids and me whispering ‘is that Dipa Karmakar?” she simply turned around, flashed a million dollar smile and said, ÿes I am Dipa” .. Our next question “can we take a selfie ??”
Selfie taken… and we talked to the tennis courts.
It was delightful to meet Arantxa – grounded and humble, social and amiable, like a true champion! The kids said hello in Spanish to her, Ola ! and soon we were across the net with her. The kids really enjoyed their attempts to rally. With some of the more talented kids, I saw flashes of the Sanchez we saw playing against Steffi Graf. After that was the customary photograph and autograph session with her. She spoke with me like we have known each other for years and I had to stop myself from asking if she had Steffi Graf’s number !!!!!
The kids were thrilled, I was overjoyed and it made me feel great that I have a sporting gene in me …which is getting passed on to the kids ! They came back happy and content and went for their tennis class – If I have managed to get them interested in tennis as sport even if for a recreation, it has been a mission achieved for me !
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