Sakshi Malik and Nikhat Zareen

The curation leans towards women performers, which we love; however, the list leaves out key disciplines (tennis and squash) and its stars (Sania, Paes, Bhupathi, Bopanna, Ghosal, Pallikal and Chinappa). The inclusion of cricket is a downer and, in some measure, weakens what this book could have achieved — to celebrate non-cricket sportspersons who are forgotten in non-Olympic, non-Asian Games and non-Commonwealth Games years. Lifter Achinta Sheuli didn’t deserve to be here, given that he was expelled from the Paris Olympics training camp for entering the women’s hostel at night.

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Wrestler Sakshi Malik’s daring stand against her federation would have made for a gritty salute to her equally gritty sporting journey. Since these stories are not in-person or in interview format, perhaps their mantras on sport for aspirants would have lent a personalised touch to end each chapter. The illustrated portraits by Pallavi Jain are arresting, but this book is about sport, where action is key. A similar style to interpret the sportsperson in action would have hit home harder.

By the time we are done writing this, Nikhat Zareen has lost the bout.This book’s heart is in the right place: to remind India of its sporting talent, and that it is important to back them, even on a day they lose.

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