Sivakumar Thiyagarajan on sports

Sivakumar Thiyagarajan believes there’s a reason why so many motivational speakers use sports as a metaphor for life. There are innumerable parallels between what it takes to be successful both in real life and on the playing field. Sivakumar Thiyagarajan finds that the qualities of determination, skill, and hard work contribute to a person’s chance of winning in both arenas. There is a parallel between life and sports that doesn’t get enough attention, however, and that’s the connection between a person’s character off the field and his good sportsmanship on it.

Sivakumar Thiyagarajan thinks good sportsmanship encompasses many aspects of a person’s character, the most fundamental being respect. A good sportsperson respects both his teammates and his opponents as equals. Sivakumar Thiyagarajan considers that a win that does not come fairly holds no satisfaction. A good sportsman is honest in his dealings with opponents, because he treats them the way he wants to be treated. Sivakumar Thiyagarajan finds that she is unselfish in her desire to see all her teammates participate and enjoy the game. She is humble in her victories, and has the proper perspective on her losses.

Sivakumar Thiyagarajan credits many qualities with a good sportsperson like being a team player, staying positive, give credit to an opposing player when they play a good shot, lose gracefully, not blaming team mates or officials and remembering to keep things in perspective.

Sivakumar Thiyagarajan finds other defining qualities of good sportsmanship to be winning with class and respecting the rulings of officials. As a fan, Sivakumar Thiyagarajan believes, good sportsmanship includes respecting the opposing team, respecting your fellow fans, watching your language and respecting the officials. Sivakumar Thiyagarajan understands that a fan would stick with her team through good time and bad.