Page 45 - Essence - 6

8 8 GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP
GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP
BEYOND THE GAME
BEYOND THE GAME

“
“Sportsmanship isn't about criticizing the "one" who didn't win on "that one" Sportsmanship isn't about criticizing the "one" who didn't win on "that one"
day... it's about appreciating and supporting their hard work amidst failures.” ... it's about appreciating and supporting their hard work amidst failures.”
day
―Akansh MalikAkansh Malik
―
Sportsmanship or sporting spirit means the right spirit in which a game is played. An ideal

sportsman plays a game for the sake of the game. He is neither puffed by victory nor
depressed by defeat. He remains the same both in adversity and prosperity. He does not

take undue advantage of the weakness of his opponents on the playground, just like he

doesn’t in the broad field of life. He shows true sportsman spirit in all walks of life. His
motto is to just play the game. A marked quality of an ideal sportsman is that he believes in

fair play and no favour. He does not want any favours to be given to his team. He believes in
equal opportunities for all; he never hits below the belt; and he never plays an underhand

game to win.

Story Corner

I stayed after school so that I could watch the basketball game

between St Agnes and the Metro Deaf School. I was keeping
the book of fouls, points, etc; I was amazed. I had never seen

better sportsmanship in my whole life. There was one boy
who stuck out from all the rest. He was a sixth grader and

an unbelievable basketball player. This player made all of his
shots and the team wouldn’t have even been in the game

without him. This amazing player whose number was 32

fouled on the other team. The person he fouled fell down
and crashed into the floor. Number 32 immediately dropped

the ball and helped the other person up. Then at the end of
the game, he hugged the other team’s coach even though they

lost.

Even for people who don’t play basketball, this boy’s courage and good sportsmanship

should be a lesson to all. The boy was deaf and communicated with his team members and
43