There are few avenues in everyone’s life which give them satisfaction and peace of mind. These avenues are actually path following which people encounter various phases of life and its utmost vividness, and enjoy sheer happiness and contentment after every milestone. Of all these avenues, there’s one which is in the purview of many people and is pursued by many. It’s the one which encompasses people of all age, ethnicity, region and creed. It’s the one which forces you to push your limits and gives you immense results once you reach beyond the level of exhaustion. It’s SPORTS.
I joined Tata Power as the much-coveted position of Graduate Engineer Trainee last July. It was during the first few days of orientation, I came to know about the company’s excellent sporting environment. The large creed of sports which people pursue here as part of Tata Family, the endeavor it puts forth to nurture talents in every creed and the spirit it offers to every sportsman, helping them keep the flames of their passion alive. I played Badminton as a mere avocation till college, and knowing all these, I was more than happy, as I will be able to pursue my interest and will be getting a good platform to improve myself.
I started practicing badminton and met some of the finest players in the colony. Then came the month of November, bearing “The inter-divisional Badminton tournament” of the company. I gleamed with excitation as the opportunity which I was seeking was right at my doorstep. Buckling myself, I promised to put in my best and got selected for the QA & IT/ETD team. November 17-18 was the date of the tournament.
The tournament started and there were teams, irrespective of ranks and gender, participating from various locations across the nation. The most startling observation was the broad spectrum of age of participants, ranging from 21 years to 55 years. How can a company have such fit employees at that age for a game like this? The tournament was beautifully managed. Right from the team selection to the prize distribution, everything was effectively planned. My team was doing well and an unforgettable fact was that even the opponents were appreciating a good smash or a fine drop shot when played. Such sportsmanship was really uncommon and reflected the core values that the players have. We reached up to semi-finals and my match was against a fellow named Mr. Anup Kanade. It was hard to give him a good fight and I lost to him. Later on, he appreciated my efforts and highlighted my mistakes. He happened to be a national level player. Learning from someone with such prolific skills made me feel honored. My team finished third in the tournament, but the hard work really paid off, as my game drew the attention of many senior players.
Contemplating all those happenings, a gust of delight and happiness rushes in me, reminding me of all the learnings (about game as well as sportsmanship), and the praise I received and most importantly about the values a person should inculcate. So, here I am, feeling confident and realizing that this organization not only values me for the services which I offer but also paves a way for me to pursue my passion and shine bright with my head held high.
The tournament started and there were teams, irrespective of ranks and gender, participating from various locations across the nation. The most startling observation was the broad spectrum of age of participants, ranging from 21 years to 55 years. How can a company have such fit employees at that age for a game like this? The tournament was beautifully managed. Right from the team selection to the prize distribution, everything was effectively planned. My team was doing well and an unforgettable fact was that even the opponents were appreciating a good smash or a fine drop shot when played. Such sportsmanship was really uncommon and reflected the core values that the players have. We reached up to semi-finals and my match was against a fellow named Mr. Anup Kanade. It was hard to give him a good fight and I lost to him. Later on, he appreciated my efforts and highlighted my mistakes. He happened to be a national level player. Learning from someone with such prolific skills made me feel honored. My team finished third in the tournament, but the hard work really paid off, as my game drew the attention of many senior players.
Contemplating all those happenings, a gust of delight and happiness rushes in me, reminding me of all the learnings (about game as well as sportsmanship), and the praise I received and most importantly about the values a person should inculcate. So, here I am, feeling confident and realizing that this organization not only values me for the services which I offer but also paves a way for me to pursue my passion and shine bright with my head held high.
