Special Olympics Asia Pacific’s Post

Over the past 2.5 years, along with my partners Maksood and Tahir, I have been running a league for the sport Ultimate Frisbee here in India. Although the sport is biggest in the United States, you would be surprised how popular it is around the world - even here in our country. The unique element of Ultimate being a mixed gender sport (ratio of men:women keeps alternating from 4:3 every two points) makes it especially relevant in our country where girls and women aren't encouraged to take up a sport -- Ultimate has successfully empowered a lot of women while teaching boys and men to be respectful of women. Players come from a myriad of cities: Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Surat (yes!), Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Auroville, and even some states in the North East! I learned the sport from my cousins back when I was in school but truly reconnected with it when I moved to Mumbai in 2019 for my first big boy job after graduating college. Through the club (Stormchasers!) is how I met Mack and Tahir who pitched the idea of an IPL for Ultimate Frisbee in India and I told them I want to join them as a partner and that's how Off-Season Ultimate (OSU) started! Due to Covid, we had to postpone our first season of Mumbai Ultimate League (MUL) twice - thankfully, we persevered and organised Season 1 of MUL in September 2021 with just 80 players! Since then, we have organised 8 more tournaments: 2 more seasons of MUL, a women's tournament in Mumbai, and weekend tournaments in Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, and Surat (twice!)! Our biggest USP has been that we have broadcasted every single OSU match live on your YouTube channel: https://lnkd.in/gxJchKKA Not only have we hosted tournaments, we have helped promote the sport by sponsoring players, State teams, and organisations that use Ultimate as a learning tool to nurture at-risk youth in our cities! December 2023 we will host our tenth tournament and first tournament with foreign participation! We are excited to host this tournament as it will prove to talent across the world that not only does India have talent comparable to theirs, but that we can host a solid, competitive tournament as well! These two-three years have been incredible. The nervousness I feel before hosting a tournament is something I have never experienced before -- I am extremely pessimistic and wary of the failures but I'm learning how to be better. Explaining to people what I'm trying to do this is always a challenge, I have faced ridicule and jokes for taking this seriously and it has been disheartening but thankfully the support I have received has quelled the negativity. Although the support I have received from our primary sponsor Refex Group, my parents, and the community has given me an incredible platform, OSU has helped me prove my capabilities to myself. I am extremely grateful to my partners Mack and Tahir and look forward to keep developing our partnership and brotherhood.

Neeraj Chopra once again proves that a true champion is defined by more than just medals. When Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem faced a critical equipment crisis ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, Neeraj didn't hesitate to offer his support. This gesture showcases the power of sports to transcend borders and foster unity. As Indians, we can take pride in Neeraj not just for his athletic achievements, but for exemplifying the values of friendship and sportsmanship on the global stage. https://lnkd.in/gsZnTzpx

Defeat doesn't define you; your response does.     PV Sindhu's Olympic journey is a masterclass in resilience.   Sindhu's post-match reflection exemplifies key positive psychology principles: ↳ Self-compassion: Acknowledged difficulty without harsh self-judgment ↳ Growth mindset: Focused on learning, not fixed outcomes ↳ Optimism: Maintained hope for future improvement   These attitudes foster resilience and long-term success.   Champions aren't just made by victories, but by cultivating inner strength.   Embrace setbacks as opportunities for growth. That's the essence of a champion's mindset.   Beyond medals, Sindhu, you'll always be a champion for your unwavering pursuit of excellence and the exemplary way you handle challenges. Your journey transcends mere victories! Watch Sindhu's interview after her Olympics Exit: https://lnkd.in/gbn5YjzZ #PositivePsychology #Resilience #Olympics2024 #SarikaGoelCoaching #JioCinema #PVSindhu #Badminton #Sports #Mentality 

"As passionate Indians, we often find ourselves caught in a whirlwind of emotions when it comes to our athletes. However, it's crucial to approach these moments with a balanced perspective. Vinesh Phogat's disqualification at the Olympics, while undoubtedly disappointing, was a result of a technical violation. The rules governing these competitions are established for a reason, and it's essential to acknowledge their importance. While our hearts may ache for Vinesh and her team, it's equally important to recognize the efforts of other wrestlers, especially those who may have faced similar challenges but have not garnered as much attention. These wrestlers have sacrificed a lot and when a management failed to keep Vinesh’s weight under 50kgs, the management of other wrestlers did it with professionalism and awareness. It's a mistake to place the blame on the Olympic Committee. Why do we need to blame the Olympic Committee when there is a rule already set out? Vinesh's management and the athlete herself must bear responsibility for the situation. A more humble approach, acknowledging both Vinesh's contributions and the need to adhere to the rules, would be more constructive. Imagine a scenario where Vinesh had been disqualified by an opponent who weighed slightly more. Would we not have been equally vocal in protesting the decision? Our passion should extend to all athletes, regardless of their weight or nationality. As we await the outcome of the CAS hearing, let's approach the situation with patience and respect for the process. While we hope for a favorable result, it's essential to remember that sportsmanship and fair play are equally important." I am shocked to know that we are still waiting for the CAS hearing which might be in our favour. #ioc #ioa #parisolympics #india #cas #courtofarbitration #indianolympicassociation

Have you also been enjoying watching the Olympics the past few weeks? 🥇 What’s more incredible than witnessing these amazing athletes compete against each other is watching them overcome mistakes during their competitions. In front of huge crowds, while being filmed for the entire world to see—live and recorded forever—these athletes perform in the sport most important to them, a sport they have worked years, if not decades, to perfect for this very moment. We’ve watched them make huge mistakes and even fall flat on their faces, showing us, if only for a moment, that they are human too. But possibly their greatest strength, and the reason they’re able to compete in the Olympics, is what happens next... They keep going as if it never happened, and some of them still win gold!! Two lessons here that I try to implement in my everyday life: 1) Everyone makes mistakes. They may not be broadcast live for all to see, but you don't need to witness them to know they're happening. 2) If you let a mistake bring you down, you are only failing yourself. Own it, move on, and then you will win! Happy Monday Everyone :) #winning #goldmedal #olympics #perspective

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What would you say about Vinesh Phogat’s journey in Paris Olympics 2024 ? She Believed in the process, Yet result did not follow 😢 Vinesh made history as the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the gold medal match but the day had other plans as her hopes were dashed when she was found to be 100 grams over the weight limit during the weigh in. Before her bouts she was 49.9 kgs but after a small meal her weight quickly rose back to 53 kgs. In a desperate attempt to shed weight she endured a empty stomach sleepless night. She ran hours that night but time was not on her side and and she fell short of cutting the final 100 grams leading to her disqualification from the Olympics. Its beyond imagination to see that after being so close to winning the Olympics gold or silver how far she remained from even getting qualified? Her story teaches us that while we strive for excellence, we must also be prepared to accept the result and learn from the obstacles along the way. The journey is often marked with sacrifices and struggles and not every outcome will be favourable, no matter how hard we try. It teaches us that Embracing and learning from failures is equally important to celebrating success. Vinesh’s experience underscores that success is not always in our control, but our attitude towards setbacks and our ability to learn from them is what truly defines our journey. #HappySunday #perseverance #hardwork #embracefailures

Follow the journey of 20 high performance athletes in a #docoseries about fightbacks and fears, resilience and determination, sacrifice and triumph. ONE SERIES… TWENTY ATHLETES… FIVE FEATURE EPISODES… Introducing #NSWISLightsUp

Breaking News: Olympics comes to India! And, we're not just hosting, we're dominating! Introducing new events that play to our strengths: 1. Jumping to Conclusions - We're already gold medalists in assuming things without facts! 2. Extreme Queuing - Who needs speed when you can wait in line for hours? 3. Freestyle Procrastination - Our sports officials have mastered the art of doing nothing! 4. Synchronized Honking - Our traffic jams are about to get a lot more rhythmic! 5. Pole Vaulting Over Expectations - We'll clear those bars of hope and disappointment with ease! 6. Wrestling with Bureaucracy - Who needs physical strength when you can tackle red tape? 7. Marathon of Meetings - Our sporting officials and bureaucrats can sit and discuss for hours on end! 8. Shot Put in lying - we have a champion who can throw a lie the farthest. With these events, India is guaranteed to top the medal tally! Who needs traditional sports when you can excel in the art of doing nothing? Let the games begin! #OlympicsInIndia #MedalMasters #newevents

The “Akhwari mindset” is not necessarily about coming in first or last. It is about ending the race in a manner that gives dignity and glory to all the days of effort and preparation. I cannot think of anyone who understands what it means to finish well better than Stephen Akhwari, the former Tanzanian Marathon runner who competed in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. Bloodied and bandaged, he limped into an almost empty stadium, completing a run which was supposed to last for 2 hours. He had started well, but fell and wounded his knee and dislocated a joint. Stephen, however, continued running after he received treatment. The weather conditions were terrible, so 18 out of 75 runners had given up. He knew the race had been won, the ceremonies were over, and the stadium would probably be empty, but he continued running into the stadium to finish the race. When interviewed later and asked why he continued running, he said, "My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race." As you wrap up the year, finish strong on your own terms in a manner that celebrates your efforts and gives you fuel to continue the journey. After 1968, Akhwari won other races and served as a special ambassador at other Olympic Games. In my recent article for Graphic Business, I shared five ideas on what you must do to finish strong. Kindly check the link in the comments section to read the article. #finishstrong #olympicgames #acceleratingtransformation