For superstars, age is just a number. Sunday, January 29, saw two veterans coming up trumps. Roger Federer (35) beat Rafael Nadal to win the Australian Open for the fifth time and also claim his 18th Grand Slam title at Melbourne.
At Nagpur, it was Ashish Nehra (37) who bagged three vital wickets to help India level the T-20 series against England. It is all about attitude and the urge to excel irrespective of age and both Federer and Nehra personify tremendous agility.
Talk of Federer, the Swiss legend revived his rivalry with Nadal and edged past him by 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3. Similarly, Nehra’s experience came in handy for the Indian captain, Virat Kohli when he bowled in the right areas and encouraged Jasprit Bumrah to seal the match for India.
Federer after winning the Australian Open has the distinction of wining three Grand Slams on five or more occasions: five Australian Open titles, five US Opens and he has won the Wimbledon seven times. “I’ve been coming here for almost 20 years now. I’ve always enjoyed it and now my family does too. Thanks again for everything, to everybody. I hope to see you next year. If not, this was a wonderful run here and I can’t be more happy to win,” said Federer after the victory.
Both Federer and Nehra have fought injuries. Federer got back to court after a gap of six months. He had to undergo a surgery. in fact, took an injury time out against Stan Wawrinka in the semi-final of the Australian Open. He was struggling with a leg injury. Nehra also had a knee surgery in London before storming his way back into the Indian T20 side. But injury was never an impediment for both and their performances are an evidence.
Sports need personalities like Federer and Nehra who defy age and still exude the zeal of a teenager. It’s the hunger that matters and Federer and Nehra prove it.
For youngsters, it’s time to take lessons from these two sporting personalities. Beat adversities and climb the ladder of success: That should be the mantra.