RECENTLY India won the Asian Cup by defeating neighbours Pakistan in the final. Unfortunately, at the end of the match the victorious Indians did not shake the hands of their opponents.
To add insult to injury, the Indian team refused to accept the prized President’s Cup.
It is customary in professional and amateur sport for the shaking of hands between teams after a match. Shaking of hands is not just a greeting but also a gesture of mutual respect, acknowledgement and appreciation, rivalry notwithstanding, noting keen competitiveness and pride.
The actions of the Indians are, with respect, unsporting and unbecoming. It is common knowledge that over decades there has been rivalry, bitterness and strife between India and Pakistan, primarily, the contentious border conflict.
It is hoped that in the future good sportsmanship will prevail with humanity and mutual respect restored. In the bigger picture and scheme of things. It is also hoped that through dialogue and necessary multi-state interventions, peace and harmony would become a reality in areas of conflict and strife, especially in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti.
Sport is such a big unifying factor, Remember in 2010 when South Africa hosted the FIFA Soccer World Cup and the various times when the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup on multiple occasions how the country was united in joy, patriotism and pride.
Like Louis Armstrong (Satchmo) it will indeed then be a wonderful world and John Lennon’s words of the world living in peace in the song Imagine would come to fruition.
Yes the noble and humble pen is indeed mightier than the perilous and crippling sword. | Simon T Dehal Verulam