It’s been almost a week since India’s heartbreaking loss to Australia in the World Cup final, however for some, it still hurts. India football team caotain Sunil Chhetri, who is used to facing heartbreaks in football a lot of times, empathised with Team India after they yet again failed to cross the final hurdle. With a home World Cup not coming around often, Rohit Sharma & Co lived up to the expectations of millions of fans by playing near-perfect game in the 10 matches of WC. But in the finals, Australia outsmarted India in all the departments of the game.
Chhetri, who has always supported team India, yet again voiced his opinion on the matter, stating that this loss would be hard for India to digest as it would take weeks and months, but all the players had given it their all.
“It is perhaps not fair for me to do so as I am actually on the other side. As a player, I understand what the players go through. But still, let me say this. All of us felt the pain and the disappointment,t but no one could feel it more than the eleven men who played in the final. I can tell you this the pain they must have felt and continue to feel is very different. For weeks and months, they will feel the pain. So when you say things in frustration on social media and post a tweet, just for a second pause and think,” Chhetri said Rev Sportz.
“They played extraordinary cricket for 10 games, and as a sportsman, I can tell you things can go wrong in the 11th game. Such things happen in sports. In fact, that’s why it’s a sport. It doesn’t always go as per script. But effort, preparation, commitment- whatever you ask for, these men had given it their all. Maybe you can think about it once before writing,” Chhetri added.
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Speaking about the Indian football team, Chhetri & Co lost to Qatar 3-0 in the FIFA Qualifiers. While the loss was heartbreaking, Chhetri put aside that heartbreak and obliged to young fan to request for photo and autograph.
Chhetri makes a day of young fans, says ‘the kind of love I receive from fans is overwhelming’
For any sportsperson, a loss can be gut-wrenching. More so when they have just lost the match and are returning to the team bus. However, for Chhetri, who had just boarded the bus, meeting the young fan was of utmost importance. The legendary footballer said it is the love of fans and adulation that makes this sport even more wonderful.
“I have often said this to you Boria da, the kind of adulation and love I receive from the fans is just overwhelming. And it has grown exponentially in the past few years. The very least I can do is reciprocate. Not always is it possible. You aren’t always in the frame of mind after a loss, or there can be cops who say it is not wise because of security issues. On that night I just requested the cops that I wanted to meet the young kid. It just seemed the right thing to do.”
“I feel that if any one of these fans who I get an opportunity to meet and take a picture with goes on and plays the sport, it will be a legacy I will be most proud of. For me, it is just about coming down from the bus and taking a photograph. For them, it is a lot more.
If I am able to make someone happy, that’s the biggest thing I can do as a sportsperson. I will always do it. But as I said, it is not always possible, and not always can you make everyone happy. But I am glad I was able to bring a smile to her face that night in Bhubaneshwar,” Chhetri added
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