A year of leaps

Christ the redeemer would have his benevolent eyes upon the single largest gathering of elite athletes from around the world. Rio will have the privilege to become the first South American city to host the summer games and while the almighty will survey the action from his lofty perch, us mere mortals will tune in from the various corners of the globe to witness the rise of new legends and some attain immortality. The cynosure of all eyes without a doubt would be the track and field events with Usain Bolt looking to make a run for the ages. A third successive sweep of the blue riband events of 100 m, 200 m, and 4x100 m will need a new adjective to be coined to qualify this trail blazer. In what is most probably his swan song at the Olympics, the "Bolt" is certain to electrify the track. Whether he can achieve the pinnacle never even in sight before is something Brazil and the rest of the world will wait for with bated breath. Another man on a mission would be Mo Farah. The affable Briton would want to etch his name in the annals of history with another double in the 5000 m and 10000 m races following on his exploits in London. Yelena Isinbayeva would want to go into the sunset with a third gold around her neck (and without the albatross of doping that the Russians are saddled with). The pool would also disclose if the most decorated Olympian of all time returns to his hallowed water one more time. While Michael Phelps has swum under the radar since coming out of retirement, he is certain to make a splash should he make a comeback. It would again be a race to the finish for the topping the medal tally between the traditional power houses of the US and Russia going against the new age leaders in China. The soccer mad country should go into a tizzy for two weeks celebrating the motto that drives the best exponents of sport "Citius, Altius, Fortius".

The grand slam of the Asia Pacific finished its first week of play today and while most of the usual suspects made it to the second week, Rafa had to contend with the ignominy of being bundled out in the first round. The last couple of seasons have been difficult for the Spanish matador and Novak's watershed performances have contributed in no small measure to that outcome. A game based on grind and run seem to have accelerated the downhill spiral and it remains to be seen if the clay court season brings any succor. Novak has been conquering all in his sights for the last couple of years and his mental strength to scrape through difficult situations has put him right at the zenith of his career. A golden slam is not out of the realms of imagination given his form and fortitude. Stefan may well look out for his papa's dream run. Roger has had a phoenix like regeneration and while he has not been able to add to his tally of majors, journeys to the deep end of grand slams have not dried up, the championship victory march only cut short because of the Serbian's dominance. With his friend Ivan on his side, there may be a few more weapons (other than the not so successful SABR) that the Swiss may try to put the debate about the greatest ever beyond doubt. His game, so different from the only man he has taken a hiding over his career has stood him in good stead. At 34, he still can run toe to toe against the undisputed world number one. His finesse and elegance still lights up the courts and despite every year bringing us close to the time when he leaves behind his beloved courts, the end certainly won't be in a whimper. 

Serena Williams is one short of matching Steffi Graf for the number of grand slam wins at 22 but what would be in her lofty sights is something only the German has achieved in the history of the game, a golden slam. Steffi backed up her 4 majors in 1988 with the Olympic gold and Serena certainly will have a look at matching the legend. The ladies game remains in flux and her adversaries have managed to topple her only on very rare occasions. Vika Azarenka has shown that she may be back in the groove after being laid low with injury for the last two years and Maria Sharapova continues to be one of the leading lights but none have been able to match the consistency and power of the American. If she doesn't self destruct, this may be the year where records are rewritten to stay put for a long time.

Scorching tracks and record books

The only thing that could tumble Usain Bolt at the bird's nest was a pot bellied camera man riding a segway scooter. Justin Gatlin came close but that was probably the only consolation for the United States track team who lost out on all the six coveted sprint titles in the 100m, 200m and the 4X100m relay. Beijing was the place where Bolt announced his arrival in 2008 and seven years later, he ran into an orbit inhabited only by him and perhaps out of reach by mortals aiming to follow in his incredible foot steps. The Jamaican has now won all of the three fast races in the major championships starting from the China Olympics except one. The 2009, 2011, 2013 and recently concluded 2015 world championship titles are embellishments to his defense of his 3 titles in London 2012. The only blemish continues to be his 2011 Daegu disqualification for a false start in the 100m. 17 golds from a possible 18 is as mind boggling a performance as is his dexterity at sprinting despite being significantly over 6 feet in height. The enormity of the laurels he has won can only be put in perspective from the fact that he now matches the great Carl Lewis in the number of gold medals won in the Olympics and the world championships. His humongous strides have more than made up for the disadvantage of a slower initial acceleration. He has indicated that the glittering career may end at London in 2017 and if he manages to add another six major titles to his already bulging kitty, the track would bow in deference afforded to none before and in all probability never again. 

Catch me if you can

Mo Farah imitates Bolt with the lightning pose topping it with his signature M after the race but he is a trail blazer by himself in no small measure. A triple double in the 5000m and the 1000m starting at the 2012 London games, followed by Moscow and now in Beijing are titles that put him right on top of the list of great long distance runners. The Kenyans and the Ethiopians  come out in hoards to topple the Briton but his burst in the final lap leaves them all in his wake. He runs at the back and even cools his heels in the water puddle but when it comes to the finishing line, there is little anybody can do match his strides, a thing of ultimate beauty. He would go to Rio as the favorite to defend the titles he won at home and a double there would enhance a legacy that is already legendary. A "mobot" in Brazil will be some sight to behold.

M the best

Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce may not be as common a name when compared to her illustrious compatriot but her achievements in the 100m make her one of the great women sprinters of all time. Akin to Usain, she had a bad 2011 in South Korea but barring that hiccup, has won all the 100m titles starting from the 2008 summer games. She has been instrumental in some thrilling relay wins for Jamaica and remains in pole position to defend her title in 2016. There have been few world records broken in China but the one that did get broken was in the grueling decathlon. Ashton Eaton came in as the defending champion but managed to go a bit further by shattering his own mark. His final run at the 1500m event left everyone gasping and firmly established the American as one of the all time great athletes. The middle distance races of 400m, 800m and 1500m had their share of expected winners while a couple of new stars emerged. On the men's side, Kenyans Rudisha and Kiprop landed the gold coming in as favorites while Ganzele Dibaba had to be satisfied with the 1500m title after being ambushed by a sterling run by fellow country woman Almaz Ayana in the 5000m. The 400m men's title went to another young South African in Wayde van Niekerk who outran the American Merritt in a pulsating final and had to be stretchered out from the stadium more out of shock than fatigue. Another athlete to make her mark was Dafne Schippers. The former heptathlete in Oranje missed out on the 100m by a whisker but her blistering gold medal run in the 200m announced the arrival of a serious threat to the US/Jamaican hegemony in the sprints. If these world championships were an indicator to the impending summer games, we should be in for some history making under the eyes of  "Christ the Redeemer".

Aussies in Nott(h)ingham

Sixty is what David Warner munches to lunch on a typical opening day of a test match. Sixty is what Steve Smith has against his name by the same time if he gets in after an early dismissal. Sixty is what Michael Clarke doesn't think twice before declaring even if behind. Sixty is not what you see the mighty Aussies bundle out for. And you don't see Stuart Broad sheepish very often. It  was the sort of Ashes fixture that gets played on prime time over and over again in a highlights reel. Clarke had braced himself with the steely determination that is characteristic of him after the three day loss at Edgbaston. The "I am not retiring" call however gave way to the unfortunate end of a sterling career at Trentbridge. Clarke would certainly not be alone in walking into the twilight. His retinue of not so young men will make way for another rebuilding since the time the erstwhile greats in Warne, McGrath, Hayden and Gilchrist walked away from their glittering careers. Cricket seems to be favoring the home sides with alarming frequency. Of the coterie that runs the game, there seem to be preferences that have led to lopsided contests. Australia don't seem to like seam and swing. The English don't like bounce and the the Indians don't like either. Actually they don't like spin or DRS either going by recent humiliations. That leaves the list of things preferred by the BCCI minions empty. May be any Indian side winning the IPL should count for points in the world test rankings. That would "cement" their place in the top ten for sure.

 It was not very far off in the past where the positions of the victors and vanquished were on the other side of the equator. While the Kangaroos celebrated a facile world cup victory in front of an ecstatic home crowd, England returned with the proverbial tail between their legs. How sport portrays the cycle of life, only in very quick succession. Fairy tales and sport are certainly not bed fellows. The ones who leave their hallowed turf with the same countenance as the one they sported at their zenith are few. Father time creeps up silently as is his wont and champions sweep into history in tears more often than a triumphant smile. Some look for redemption one last time as do their loyal fans. Would Clarke have one last test century? Would Roger Federer land one last grand slam? Would Tiger Woods lay his hands on the green jacket or the claret jug one last time? Will Lee Chong Wei win a gold at the worlds or the Olympics? Moments that would bring goosebumps not just because they would be a last flourish but also because they would push mortality back a little only if temporarily.

The World Badminton Championships ended in Jakarta today and we had both the singles champions defending their crowns from 2014. Chen Long has taken over the mantle from the great Lin Dan and Carolina Marin is the lone bright spot from Europe in the midst of Asian hegemony. A word for Saina Nehwal though. She isn't the swiftest of movers and doesn't have a shot that stands out. Her game is built around perseverance and accuracy both of which seemed to desert her at the last hurdle today. She becomes the first Indian player to win a silver at the worlds to go along her London Olympics bronze. The Rio Olympics may well be her last hurrah and how dearly would she want to be on the podium there. 

The last grand slam of the year is upon us. Flushing Meadows has thrown some unexpected winners on the men's side in the age of the big four. Juan Martin Del Potro breached the fortress in 2009 and Maran Cilic smashed his way to the crown last year. The hard courts and glittering nights offer a chance for a fresh winner to break through. A betting man would however not go beyond the undisputed favorite in Novak. His form has been impeccable and the shape he is in both physically and mentally, it would take something extra ordinary for him not to be counting his grand slam spoils in two digits. Hope to see someone tear up the form book in New York. Serena slam done and calendar slam beckoning. The distance between the younger of the Williams sisters and her opponents is becoming yawning and even though she suffered a set back at the Rogers cup against the up and coming Swiss Bencic, you are sure to get very good odds if you bet against her. She has the sense of the big occasion and they don't get bigger than this.

Spanish delight

Garbine Muguruza is a bit of a tongue twister. But her game is far from being complicated. It follows the time tested method of serving hard and hitting the ball harder. It's not a game of touch and finesse on grass as it used to be when the Everts, Navaratilovas and Grafs ruled roost. The one who packs a punch goes far and she who hits the best gets crowned queen. The Spaniard had a facile win over her finals' opponent at last year's French Open and while that created a flutter, her performance against the indomitable Serena last Sunday marked the coming of a new star on the WTA tour. Her scalps to the road to the final included Wozniacki and Agniezka Radwanska, wins over opponents far above her seeding or experience. Her garrulous demeanor on and off the court did not betray the confidence and free flowing shot making that she displayed in her stellar run. The center court crowd loves underdogs and if she is young and trying to make a dent in the armor of a champion, they root for her with all their might. That the 21 year old was able to get two service breaks back in the second set of the final against probably the best server of all time is testimony not only to her determination but also the power of the spectator's voice. Her showing comes with an entry to the top ten in the rankings which would ensure slightly more benign draws at majors and if the Venezuela born star can keep up the good work, bigger feats await.

The Serena slam finally materialized. She huffed and puffed like only she can, especially against the home favorite Heather Watson but got cracking when it really mattered. At an age where her contemporaries are playing invitational tennis or basking in domestic bliss, she has raised the bar one more time and it doesn't feel like the dominance is going to fade away anytime soon. With an all time record for grand slams including the amateur era well within sight, the American needs no additional motivation to continue her winning streak. Also, with her home slam at the Flushing Meadows beckoning, a calender slams is up for the taking. History being made and obliterated in such quick succession makes the younger Williams the best ever to have played tennis if not the best ever athlete. Her exploits will take a life time to equal and if she continues her all conquering ways, it may well be out of reach of mere mortals. A serve that booms like thunder and an all round game to build on that first shot makes Richard's girl a force that looks impossible to tame. Whats the only thing left  to be achieved? The golden slam with an Olympic top spot.Wouldn't 2016 be the icing on the cake?

We had a repeat of the 2014 final on the men's side on all counts (if you disregard  the number of sets played). The top two seeds made it past some stiff competition, some from expected quarters and some from not so. While Roger served up a masterclass against Murray in the semis, Novak had to come back from 2 sets down against the big serving South African Kevin Anderson. It was a battle of the old master against the current indisputable number one. The question was whether the seven time champion can keep his potent serves at the same level against probably the best ever returner the game has seen. The first two sets were close and it felt like the dramatic second set win took its toll on the aging warrior. There was a perceptible drop in intensity and the match ended in a bit of a damp squib with Federer being broken twice in the fourth set.  Djokovic never really looked out of control and his own serve survived the grueling test. The  defending champion took home his third crown and a ninth major in total and if Stefan's papa continues to be in the form he has been in for the last few years, we will have three 10-time major winners playing together. If that's not the golden age of tennis, there will never be one.

The Welsh were not thought of charitably when the latest duel for the Ashes began in Cardiff. The pitch looked low and slow, something only the sub continent is accused of serving. However, the denouement would have delighted the English faithful with the three lions turning the tables on their more formidable opponents. Joe Root's dual innings earned him a well deserved "Man of the Match" but it was the absence of patience from their antipodean rivals that led to their undoing. It has been an unexpected start to the series and a lot of words said in the build up have now become hollow hoots. The Aussies will need to pull themselves together if they want to retain the ashes in the old blighty. Lords so far has been a run glut and they may need to look to the third test to level the scores. The careers of a few good men may well be defined when we get to the end at the Kennington Oval, none more so than captain Clarke.

Who let the brats out

Niceties make an appearance on the tennis courts every season in the English summer. An almost indignant white dress code, curtseys of yore and the draw in the name of "gentlemen" and "ladies" are the hallmark of SW19. You almost feel this anachronism in the days of fluorescent dressing and heckling crowds at the other show piece tennis grand slams. However, Wimbledon remains a first amongst equals, the crown jewel cherished  more by those who take the green lawns than any other title on offer. While history is something that embellishes the tourney, a few players, champions and otherwise have gone against the norm of keeping the peace. "You cannot be serious" made its way into the tennis lexicon when a certain John McEnroe squealed that line on a contentious line call. That he followed it up with "You guys are the absolute pits of this world" is stuff of folklore. McEnroe's rants help provide that tinge of color to the absolute white fabric that defines Wimbledon. Then there was Jeff Tarango who forfeited his match after walking out on being denied an ace followed by a warning and a penalty point. "You are the most corrupt official in the game" is something that you will not hear in ages on a Wimbledon court. Then there are assorted tantrums from the likes of the Romanian great Ilie Nastase and the defending champion Djokovic. The rarity of these outbursts and melt downs is what makes them stand out in a competition known for being a stickler for the manners. Will we see an entertaining chapter being added to this list starting Monday? Its  statistically improbable but certainly not impossible.

Shooting from the racquet and the mouth

We have Murray, Nadal and Federer in the same half of the draw with Murray slated to meet the Spaniard in the quarters. Novak should have a free run to the finals if he negotiates a tricky first few rounds without a stutter. He has been drawn to play the dangerous Kohlschreiber in the first round and his ranking of 33 does not bear out the quality that the German can display. A third crown for Nole would be the perfect healing touch after the despairing loss in Paris. He still remains the man to beat and with Becker at his side in the stands, he would not be lacking in motivation to match his mentor's title wins. All of the "big four" are prior champions and so the biggest incentive would have to be for the Swiss master to own the record of the maximum number of singles titles just for his own. An eighth has been in the beckoning for some time and the loss in last year's title match in the final set after doing a Houdini in the fourth would still rankle. The watching masses would again get behind the man who gave them reason to celebrate after eons of disappointment. Andy's play has been assured in the season and his steady rise in the rankings is testament to that. Nadal started off with a win in Stuttgart but followed it up with a shock loss to the Dolgopolov at the Queens. He has a nightmarish draw with a possible match against all the other three in line to win the title. But that is the price to pay when you slide down the rankings. Stan Wawrinka would want to land another blow in his now burgeoning career and if he can string together a set of impeccable matches, he can be the dark horse to look at again. Last year's revelations, Raonic and Dimitrov don't come in the tournament looking good for an encore but the former's serves and the latter's touch play are suited to the grass and if they do manage a run deep into the second week, it won't be entirely unfathomable.

Serena, Sharapova and Kvitova would be the names to contend against on the ladies' side of the competition. The two time champion Czech would want to bag a third title after running away with the final last year. Serena would want to put the drama aside to erase some bitter memories from recent performances on her favorite surface. Her booming serves are the most potent in London and unless she self destructs, (another game with 4 double faults on the trot should certainly not be on show) number 21 would not be a surprise. The usual challengers in Lucie Safarova, Simona Halep and Bouchard may find it a tad difficult to breach the aforementioned trio's power on the grass. A fortnight of grass court marvel is about to unfold and if that's not fodder for thought, what is.

The World hockey league semi-finals is a qualifying tournament for the Rio Olympics. While the Indians have already qualified, a match against arch rivals Pakistan is always a coveted one. The change in hockey's face has been so dramatic over the years that the two traditional super powers now bow to European and Australian hegemony. 4 quarters of 15 minutes each, no offside and TV referrals mean a fast paced slick game with very little leeway for error inside the D. Defensive techniques have improved tremendously leading to a stark decline in the number of penalty corners and poached goals are a common sight. All good for the viewing public. The match ended dutch with 2 goals a piece with both for Pakistan coming from set pieces while India getting theirs from field moves. Sardar Singh remains India's talisman marshaling his troops from the midfield.  While it was an exciting contest, both sides showed deficiencies before the goal and that is something they would need to rectify soon to be able to mount a challenge for the likes of the Aussies, Netherlands and Spain.  The game looks to be on the upswing for the two Asian giants and that is worth celebrating.

WOWrinka!

The form book (and the draw) suggested a Serb and a Swiss would be on court Philippe Chatrier come the third Sunday of the Roland Garros tussle this year. While the Serb kept his date with destiny, the man flying the white cross did not bear the Federer name. Instead, it was the man who has stepped out of his illustrious compatriot's shadow for good. Stanislas Wawrinka may come across as an unassuming proponent of tennis when compared to the flamboyance of some of the other leading lights but when he unleashes that single handed backhand, its poetry on the court. His Aussie triumph last year was in many ways the proverbial flash in the pan. He won it at an age considered ripe for retirement in these days of power tennis and then went back to being the usual casualty in the second week of grand slams. A first round exit at the clay courts of Paris last year was drowned at a popular coffee joint. Keeping his head down for a string of matches proved as difficult as it was easy showing flashes of brilliance. In the meantime, the child of war carried on with his all conquering ways. Another five setter in the Melbourne semis  this year against Djokovic ended in heart break for the pink tinged Swiss. Even a collision course with the indisputable king of clay was not enough to stop the Serb's march to the finals. His cabinet misses this one trophy that would consummate the career grand slam and the stars seemed aligned to write another chapter in this glorious era of men's tennis. Nadal was at his vulnerable worst and proved no match to the world number one's consistent and probing aggression. A straight set hiding on clay is not a regular occurrence for the man from Mallorca. Till the man who goes by the moniker of Stan, if you may pardon my attempt at rhymes turned up with a weapon good enough against the top seed's arsenal. Roger was blasted off the court in the quarters and while many saw that as a result of the higher ranked Swiss being off color, Stan's game was indomitable. As creditable as the win was, he still entered the finals a firm under dog and things seemed routine when the first set went along expected lines. A break of serve for Novak and he seemed on his way to the last leaf of glory to be added to his crown. And then came the assault. Watching those back hands slice the court with the efficacy of an adept knife through butter was as much exhilarating as it was satisfying. Here was a man who fought with one hand against an armada of two handed backhands and aced them all. That he did not flinch in the face of a determined effort from Nole is testimony that the mind was in as good a place as the game was. Following up on last year's break through and a Davis cup triumph, this would have tasted all the more sweet for the genial Swiss. Would he carry on and do an encore on the Wimbledon lawns? If the back hand fires like it did in Paris, i won't bet against the "Stan gun".

All in the head and the back hand

Serena Williams fought against grueling three setters, an unsettling illness mid way through the tournament and came up with number 20. She is the grand old lady in the times of teens but carries on with her feats in a way only she can. She was down and out at least a couple of times but rose like a phoenix to land a chance at winning only a third title on the coveted red dirt. While three may sound like a dear accomplishment for most, Serena's triumphs at the other slams made her performances on clay pale in comparison. She made sure she took a step in correcting that record. Lucie Safarova is a late bloomer and is the nice girl on tour. Though that belies her determination on court and her fight back after being a set and couple of breaks down would have stirred the imagination of many a connoisseurs. It proved to be a bridge too far to take the fight to the trophy but it certainly provided the watching public an engrossing battle. Grass is the American's favorite surface and with just a couple of more trophies to be hoisted to meet the incredible Steffi's record, a grand slam at Flushing Meadows in August would crown her the greatest of all time.Watch out for some fireworks.

Barcelona completed the anticipated treble with the La Liga, Copa del Rey and most importantly the Champions League titles. A strike force of Neymar, Messi and Suarez would instill fear in any team and the old lady proved to be no match to the onslaught at Berlin's Olympic stadium.Two of the three aforementioned stars got on the score sheet and the fact that all the three who scored including Rakitic have been signed in the last two years shows that the money has been well spent. While compact and precise passing is a hall mark of the continental giants, it was the counter attacks that earned them their fifth European title. Unsurprisingly, the biggest casualty of Barca's exploits was Carlo Ancelloti who had go make way for Rafa Benitez at the Bernabeau. Real Madrid ended the season empty handed in the wake of their bitter rivals' incredible showing and for the galacticos faithful, a change of guard was inevitable. Their talisman remains with them for another season but can Ronaldo lift them to some silverware before he moves on is a question only the football turf would answer.

It's clay time

There's a coup in the air and the pretenders to the crown are sliding their feet in glee. None more so than the man who currently wields the tennis racquet as a magic wand. The wizardry has not borne fruit on the Parisian red dirt yet but each passing year takes Nole that little bit closer to completing his impeccable collection. Not many would stand against Novak's place among the pantheon of greats but he certainly won't like to end up a la Lendl who conquered everything but never bit the grass. With just a single Argentine triumph at an ATP250 event, the emperor looks the most vulnerable he has ever been in his remarkable career on his beloved surface. A tenth title at Roland Garros is certain to provide the much needed fillip Rafael Nadal needs to jump start his lack luster return after getting that troublesome appendix removed. Losses to the Italian Fognini and the humbling he had to face against the blissfully married Murray on his home turf would certainly put a dent in the indomitable Mallorcan's confidence. Having dropped out of the top 5 in the rankings is not going to make the draw any easier and an early meeting with either the world number one or Murray is a real possibility. The normal whipped forehand has proved troublesome and the movement far from the tip toeing we are accustomed to. Whether its just rustiness or a physical niggle lingers is anybody's guess but the second grand slam of the year may see a seismic shift in the balance of power in men's tennis this year. Novak has been swamping aside anything that has come his way and with the Aussie open already under his belt and an ATP1000 title at his current home in Monte Carlo, a career grand slam should dominate the Serb's dreams. In Boris, he has someone who carries the burden of not having taken the clay home. While the German may not be able to tell him how to win the holy grail but he can surely let him know how not to lose. Andy Murray has been climbing back at the same rate as Rafa has been sliding and his form makes him a good bet to go all the way. If he can turn marital bliss into that calming influence, he could be the man to throw the spanner in the works of the firm of Djokovic and Nadal.

One more?

Serena starts a firm favorite in any tournament she plays. Her contemporaries have long disappeared either into domestic duties or slipped into the stream of time. She, however stands tall bearing the torch of a generation most teens today wouldn't identify with. What they certainly would be acquainted to is the Canadian Eugenie Bouchard. While she has been able to scorch the courts with her looks and play, her cabinet does not boast of a grand slam title yet. She has Simona Halep for company when it comes to boasting stakes and the Romanian would like desperately to get her name on the Suzanne Lenglen trophy. Maria Sharapova may be the defending champion but she may find it a tad difficult to defend her title with the years on the roll. But the lady who once described her play on clay akin to "a cow on ice" may still have a few tricks up her sleeve to surprise. A scintillating fortnight awaits with a hegemony on the line and history in the waiting. Bon Apetit.

Steven Gerrard says good bye to Anfield today against Crystal Palace. His has been a career that legends are made of. Its hard to see players today sticking to a club for as long as he has and while he may be past his glory days, the Liverpool faithful will miss the spark he provided. The high point of his stay has to be the incredulous come from behind win at the Champions League final against Milan at Istanbul. in 2005. After trailing by 3 goals at half time, a Gerrard inspired reds turned the tables on the fabled Maldini's team. The low has to be not winning the league even once over his 17 year stay at the Merseyside. Another grudge would be to have been part of some underwhelming performances at the world cup manning the famous midfield along side Frank Lampard and David Beckham. All in all, Steven Gerrard played with distinction and his inclination to return back to where he started, possibly in a coaching role would be well received by the club. As always, you will never walk alone.

Djoko hi-fier

Stefan should get ready for some more time in the limelight. Papa Novak hasn't let domestic bliss affect his game and with a rollicking start to the season, the toddler with Djokovic as his last name may well be ahead of the two sets of twins with the Federer moniker in the rolling stakes. The Serb was always the favorite to land a record fifth title on the Rod Laver arena and barring a slug fest against Stan a third year running, he never seemed to be out of cruise control. The limping stunt against Murray in the final was something Boris would not have masterminded but what counts in the final evaluation is that the Djoker now stands unparalleled on the sultry courts down under. Each of the top three now have their stamps of supremacy on one of the four grand slams and having them all play at the same time is a coincidence tennis is more than fortunate to witness. Whether the current world number one can break his Parisian duck will be clearer in a few months, but his place in the annals of the greats is beyond debate now. He is at the peak of his physical and mental abilities and a couple of productive years on the courts should certainly make sure he enters his name in the GOAT debate as well. Andy has bounced back splendidly and his back seems to be in good shape to take the load of top tier shot making. A third loss in the Aussie Open final would pinch, especially with the way he let that little mischief from Novak affect him. He is back in prime form now and should carry on challenging his conqueror in Melbourne for the biggest spoils right throughout the year. The other two of the quartet seem to have taken a few steps back and a way to the coveted titles would need to go through a Serbian confrontation.

Serena has had the measure of Maria for some time now. Sharapova's shrieks don't trouble her and neither do the Russian's forehands. That is because the American has a serve that stands in a league of its own and when that weapon fires, its impossible to get past her. With an 18th grand slam title, she is now just behind the legend of Graf in the numbers and getting there just looks a matter of when than if. The new brigade of the likes of Eugenie and Simona will need to find another gear to get past this old firm of ladies and going by the way the dice has rolled for the start of the season, it looks like experience will stand the test of youth for another year. It is difficult to look past the big four and the two ladies who competed in the final as contenders for the slams and that in itself is an ode to the longevity of these champions. We go into the break between the year's first two grand slams where the masters series take over with the favorites firmly in place.

The cricket world cup kicked off with a format as unpredictable as the rising of the sun. An extended group play to decide the quarter finalists is as much a drawl for the competition seeker as its a dream for the advertisers. A few needle games (how dearly would Pakistan want to change history tomorrow) should light up the otherwise soporific proceedings during the initial month of cricket. While the format may be designed to make sure the test playing nations have the best chance of progressing to the knock outs, it precludes the possibility of a fantastic run from one of the associates. Afghanistan have been the cricket story of the last few years. A war torn nation has managed to dilute some if its strife from it's cricket team's performances. Whether they kindle a miracle on the biggest stage is  in the realms of doubt but an upset or two should make sure they make the governing body realize that the sport is played on the field and not in the boardrooms. The black caps along with their trans Tasman rivals started off in style with huge victories and the two co-hosts certainly look like ensembles that would go far in the competition. The Proteas come in with their talisman DeVilliers in fine fettle and would look to break the series of unfortunate circumstances befalling their team in the quadrennial show piece.  Of the remaining five, who can make the last four is a betting man's game but its certainly not Russian Roulette. With their consistent ways of making the sporting ends of big tournaments only to play the bridesmaid too often, i would put my money on the Lankans to make the grade.

Along comes '15

The year gone by was one that sported headlines galore and was host to a number of highlights on both sides of the line. It boasted of as many superlative performances as it did underwhelming and on the barometer of excitement, it stood out as the one that pressed all the right pressure points. We had four different grand slam winners on the ATP tour and the coming of age of a few new names provided relief that the game stands in good hands with the top four slowly entering the dusk of their hegemony. Germany showed Brazil a trick or seven in the world cup semi final and then followed it up with their fourth title against the fancied Argentinians. Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi continued to dazzle for their mighty clubs but fell aside when leading the charge for their countries. New Zealand transformed itself into a redoubtable force on the cricket field with Mcculum's exploits helping the black caps surge. Let's have a look at the way this year unfolded and what the new one has in store for us. A word for Kidambi Srikanth who shot to world number 4 after suffering debilitating illness in the year. To beat Lin Dan in China was undoubtedly the highlight for the indomitable Indian and with age on this side, expect to see him scorching the badminton charts in the coming year. Saina and Sindhu maintained their competitiveness with another World Championships bronze for the latter. With a sparkling year for the Indian shuttlers, Rio prospects look brighter than ever.

Stan Wawrinka and Maran Cilic broke through the firm of Novak, Roger, Rafa and Andy to land the first and last grand slam titles of the year. While these epoch making titles were sandwiched Nadal's historic ninth title at the Roland Garros and Djokovic's second at the greens of Wimbledon, the arrival of a new brigade was certainly announced. Grigor Dimitrov dazzled as much on the field as off it ( Sharapova is no mean hand candy) and the Japanese Kei made sure that tennis lovers could look forward to an appetizing new year. Novak finished the year at the top of the heap by some margin and with the other members of the elite club struggling with either age or injury, he remains the flag bearer for the old guard. On the WTA tour, Serena continued to dominate but had only the US Open to to show for her efforts. Li Na scored in Australia but retired later and the Europeans in Maria and Petra lifted the French Open and Wimbledon respectively. It was again an up and down year for women's tennis that we have got used to seeing. Not much seems to be changing in the near future with trophies changing hands regularly being the norm. New names seem difficult to come by and the younger Williams will remain the woman to beat on the tennis courts.

The FIFA world cup in Brazil was supposed to be the celebration of the beautiful game in its spiritual home. The Samba thrilled everyone till the brutal shock of the semi final. The reigning champions were subjected to a Spanish inquisition and were abject in their defense of the title they won so convincingly in Germany. Joachim Leow led his boys to a fantastic title with a blend of attacking and holding football. While the major football leagues in the world don't muster the Bundesliga amongst them, the German structure shone through at the highest stage. Neuer was the architect of the great win with some saves that would go down in history. Thomas Muller scored a hat trick against the Portuguese and with their talisman in Miroslav Klose in fine fettle, there was no stopping the Mannschaft. It was an efficient yet memorable performance that paves the way for a young team to go ahead and emulate the Spanish on both the world and European stages.

Lewis Hamilton ran away with the championship with an incredible 11 wins out of the 19 grand prix. Mercedes were a class apart in bringing to an end the superiority of the Red Bulls. Sebastian Vettel moved to the Scuderia and a few teams like Caterham and Marussia needed to wind up mid season. Nico Rosberg played catch up whole season but still went into the Abu Dhabi race with a chance to upset the marauding Hami. There were a few incidents on the track with the top two confronting each other regularly and Jules Bianchi suffering severe head injuries at the Japanese grand prix. Honda return to the fold for 2015 and with some new pairings being formed, the new season should hopefully provide a more competitive racing scenario for the aficionados. The year also saw the shocking accident that befell its most visible figure in Michael Schumacher. Having suffered head injuries while skiing, he remains in a convalescent state with the world praying for a hero's recovery.

Rory McIlroy emerged as the top player of the year on the golfing greens bagging the Open and the PGA Championships. Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer triumphed at the Masters and the US Open respectively. Tiger continued to struggle for the next major title which remained elusive this year as well. With younger men upping the ante, it looks like the erstwhile champion may well have seen the last of his chances to add to his tally pass by. Europe extended its dominance over the USA in the Ryder cup with a third consecutive title. Rory would gun to add a few more titles in the coming year to make sure he earns his stripes to be counted amongst the greatest to have played the game.

2015 would host the cricket world cup with the defending champions looking good in the shorter format of the game while appearing jaded at the test level. It should be an enchanting tourney down under with a few challengers and dark horses in the midst. The Proteas would look to break their duck while the Aussies would be confident of starting another string of successes at home. The jokers in the pack should be the black caps who are enjoying a good patch of form and will also like the home conditions. For a game being dogged by a slew of negative occurrences not limited to the match fixing clouds and the financial conditions of a few boards, the competition should come as manna from heaven. Here's wishing all the sports connoisseurs a very sporting new year 2015.

The dark horses of the Coca-Cola IPTL

The Coca-Cola IPTL was conceived to bring together a galaxy of stars playing in a mixed team format. The Hopman cup is perhaps the closest it gets to this exciting and novel format but then it’s played along country lines precluding some delicious pairings as Djokovic-Wozniacki or Federer-Ivanovic. While the front line of all the teams boasts of superlative names like Federer, Novak, Murray, Serena, and Sharapova, there have been a few stellar performances from unexpected quarters as well. These are players who are stars in their own right but in a field this glittering, need to take a back seat in the popularity stakes. That has however not translated to a muted show from the relatively unknown faces in this part of the world. Mingling in with the supernovas are these quarks that have shone bright on this exalted stage and added that big dash of delight to the "happiness open". Given that the games won is the prime metric of a player's performance within the set of rules, we look at the average number of games won per set by some of the unexpected stars of the Coca-Cola IPTL. They are the ones who have beaten their reputation to take center stage on the court.

 

Mark Philippoussis

The "scud" has not lost any of his fire power and looked in prime touch in all the matches that he has played so far for the Manila Mavericks. With Carlos Moya struggling, the mavericks got a shot in the arm with the Aussie icon in their fold. With a perfect record of winning all the five matches that he has played and an average of the best possible 6 games per set, Mark has truly lived up to his billing as a legend. He may not have landed a grand slam title in his hey-day but has got better of more fancied opponents in Andre Agassi, Cedric Pioline and Goran Ivanisevic. He has looked in fine fettle and his single handed passes have been nothing short of astonishing. That he looks as fit as he did at the two slam finals he reached is testimony to the fact that tennis still sits easy on this icon's broad shoulders. The Philippines based team would look to him to take them closer to the coveted top slot.

Fabrice Santoro

Another legend has punched above his weight. The Indian Aces owe their top position at the moment to the "magician". The two handed forehand was something that pulled a few tricks from the Frenchman as an active player on the ATP tour and it seems the sleight of hand has not waned. Fabrice matches Philippoussis at the incredible average of 6 games per set and has proved his worth with the other legends on the Aces' team in Cedric Pioline and Pete Sampras falling short of expectations. His agility and ground strokes have been phenomenal and the longevity he showed on the professional circuit having played in grand slams in four different decades is evident for everybody who saw him trade shots at the Coca-Cola IPTL. His smile remains one of the hallmarks of the table toppers scintillating run.

Rohan Bopanna / Sania Mirza

The Indian pair is accomplished in doubles play with multiple grand slam titles to their name, albeit with different partners. However, not many would have expected them to light up the courts against bigger names. Their mixed doubles combination has played 7 out of the 8 matches played so far for the Aces and won 5 of them, losing one in the shoot-out. Their average games per set is a remarkable 5.28 which is proof of how well the duo has played in tandem. Their net coverage has been exemplary and with the traditional quick hands that doubles play asks for, the Indians have been a source of joy to the crowd and team alike. Bops has had a slightly lower rate of success at the men's doubles but has combined well with Monfils to rake in some important victories. His average of 4.12 games per set for the 8 sets played pales in comparison with the number for the mixed doubles but is nevertheless a respectable achievement given that he has had to play two sets for all the matches. To top it all, both Sania and Rohan combined today with Federer to slam the slammers 6-0, 6-1 in the mixed doubles and men's doubles respectively. If nothing else, those last two matches make the pair worth a mention in this list.

Kristina Mladenovic

I have to admit that i had not heard much of the French girl of Serbian descent before she took the Coca-Cola IPTL by storm. She has had some success on the WTA tour rising to 36 in 2013. Her claim to fame however are the two grand slam titles in mixed doubles at the 2013 Wimbledon and the 2014 Australian open with the more established Canadian Daniel Nestor. Her 5 games won on average per set in 12 sets played across singles and mixed doubles is a tremendous achievement given the stature of the more fancied ladies in the fray. She has combined well with Nenad Zimonjic to have the UAE Royals in the second spot. Kristina has been a consistent out-performer for the middle-east based team and would count as the chief architect of a possible top of the table finish. A shooting  star by every stretch of the imagination.

Nick Kyrgios

The slammers are languishing at the bottom of the table. In spite of their twin wins at home in Singapore, some other poor results have had them struggling. Standing out for them has been the effervescent Nick. He has been the anchor of the team with some stalwarts like Serena Williams, Tomas Berdych and Andre Agassi. Having played all of men's singles, mixed doubles and men's doubles for the Slammers with regularity, he has been the face of the faltering team. Some of his losses have been close fights with the teenager losing out in the shoot-out. His return of 4.08 games per set may not set the charts on fire but does impart an air of respectability to his team's fortunes. That he has been egging on his mates with a fervor reserved typically for Davis cup events has projected him out like a beacon. He has given it his all and stands out as one of the most likeable participants of the "happiness open".

Coca-Cola IPTL: How brands are leveraging niche events to inspire youngsters to take up sport

One of the most visible and exuberant proponents wielding the tennis racquet at the Coca-Cola IPTL is Nick Kyrgios. All of 19, the Australian star of Greek heritage has the boys' singles event at the Australian Open to his name but more importantly, made the quarters at this year's Wimbledon championships after defeating the indomitable Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet en route. The man Nick conquered on grass made a splash himself on the Parisian red dirt bagging the French Open title on his first attempt; Rafa had not gone past his teens either when he started his clay domination.

We have just seen the "Mozart" of chess Magnus Carlsen retain his world championship in the classical format to add to his rapid and blitz titles he won earlier this year. With an ELO rating that is shooting through the roof, his achievements only buttress his claim of being an all-time great. The Norwegian is all of 24 now; he made the GM norm at 14 years, and was the world number one at 19. If you get my tilt, sport is increasingly being dominated by young champions at ages where adolescence has not yet let go.

Popular commercial brands have had a major role to play in this phenomenon. Teenagers are increasingly getting access not just to live telecast of sport at its pinnacle but also watching the superstars in flesh and blood. All of this courtesy a number of sports leagues getting a foothold around the globe.

Global brands have been the principal pillars of support for these tournaments, which are still in their infancy. A wide-eyed youngster walking out on the court hand in hand with Roger Federer to the adulation of thousands of fans at the Coca-Cola IPTL is sure to be inspired beyond the regular pep talk from her local coach. The ball boy who watches from close quarters, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils fight it out is bound to dream of matching the Frenchmen’s shots and charisma.

Seeing top flight action at such close quarters certainly goes a long way in producing young champions. Crucially, these events also lend the youngsters a perfect opportunity to understand the mindset of these athletes who are at the summit of their game. Listening to them talk about the work, dedication and sacrifice they needed to put in since they were at the same age is a lesson no book can impart.

After all, what can be better than hearing it from the horse's mouth? With youngsters walking out on the pitch for every big match in every big event, dreams take wing and carry some of those walking alongside their heroes to sporting greatness.

Then there is the aspect of reaching out to the young sporting audience. Events like the football World Cup and the Coca-Cola IPTL leave no stone unturned in ensuring that every person in the world follows the action and gets to witness the incredible athletic feats that are performed by the stars.

Ahead of the football showpiece event in Brazil this year, Coca-Cola had launched the “World’s Cup” campaign to unite people from all over the world in the name of football. The campaign worked like a charm, as youngsters and aspiring players facing hardships in different parts of the globe got the opportunity to come into the spotlight. “Everyone was invited” to participate in the celebration of football, and everyone did indeed accept the invitation.

With the IPTL, Coca-Cola is trying to make use of another opportunity to reach out to the youngsters, this time through tennis. Brands like Coca-Cola use occasions like these to replace naiveté with steel, leading to the birth of champions. Sporting master-classes from icons, a spin trip with Shane Warne or a kick around with Lionel Messi are regularly organized around niche events and the tender ones learn a few things about precision, application and fair play in the company of these greats.

There are sponsored complimentary tickets for juniors to watch matches live, and witnessing a game from inside a stadium is an experience that gives every prodigy the sense of awe and grandeur and pushes him toward realizing his talent. With television and live telecasts making inroads into the remotest corners of the globe, commercials are being used by brands not just to further sales but also to bring sport closer to the youngsters.

Business promotion is sometimes looked at with skepticism, but brands leveraging global sport and its legends to inspire teenagers to take up sport is certainly a welcome development.