The world celebrated Rohan Bopanna’s Australian Open title and ascension to the boys’s doubles World No.1 rating with a good diploma of awe. To do it at 43 isn’t any imply feat since you not solely need to generally battle opponents half your age but additionally your physique.

It is not straightforward and Bopanna himself has a number of occasions considered quitting tennis. His age has definitely been a consider that line of thought. But as his doubles associate Matthew Ebden, who at 36 isn’t any spring rooster himself, identified after successful the Grand Slam Down Under, age ought to by no means come into the argument.

“Guys say: ‘Oh he’s so old,’ ‘too old’ – what I’ve heard in the last year and half – seriously, like: ‘Alright guys, and?’” Edben mentioned. “Watch how the guy plays tennis, what does age have to do with it?”

Bopanna mentioned most younger tennis gamers confirmed “mutual respect” on the circuit, however he feels older gamers have a lot to supply. “I think there’s a lot of wisdom to give back to the youngsters,” he mentioned.

Ebden mentioned there may be age-based discrimination throughout society. “People older than us, we look at (and think) this or that, they shouldn’t get a job or they can’t do that, yada, yada,” he mentioned. “Well, why not? We’re all people, we’re all whatever, and we celebrate all sorts of equality.”

‘NEW AGE’ CRICKET

Of course, the age argument extends approach past tennis. For instance, wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha had revealed after India’s 2021-2 Test collection in opposition to South Africa that India coach Rahul Dravid known as him to his room and mentioned that the staff administration has been “wanting to look at a new face as wicketkeeper.”

Dravid, Saha mentioned, had added, “if you want to take some other decision… you can do that.”

The India coach had later added that Saha deserved honesty and readability however the level to be famous was that Saha, 37 then, was nonetheless the most effective pure wicketkeeper within the nation. In phrases of protecting abilities, he was forward of the youthful lot however he was requested to step apart as a result of the staff wished to “look at a new face”.

Now, is that truthful?

As Ebden mentioned, he is outdated, and?

As KS Bharat went about his glovework and his batting within the first Test in opposition to England, it wasn’t laborious to see that Saha would have been higher. In a person sport, like tennis as an example, Saha would have performed on for so long as he wished to; so long as the physique and thoughts have been keen. So, why is it totally different in a staff sport… if the athlete is nice sufficient, he’s adequate.

Shouldn’t the argument finish there? Where and the way does age come into the image?

The same argument was made by Rohit Sharma when he was requested whether or not Ajinkya Rahane or Cheteshwar Pujara have been thought of for the primary Test in opposition to England.

“Look, actually we did think about it (going back to a senior player). But all these younger players, when are they going to get their opportunity? That’s something we thought, I thought as well,” Rohit had mentioned throughout his pre-match press convention.

But the purpose must be easy. Have the youthful lot completed sufficient to drive their approach into the staff? Are they higher? The youthful gamers will get their alternative once they persuade others that they’re the higher choice. Should older gamers be requested to easily step apart as a result of somebody youthful is ready within the pipeline? Would they’ve been higher in South Africa or on a turner?

NFL star Tom Brady is standout however so is Roger Federer. George Foreman did the identical in boxing. Golf legend Jack Nicklaus received three main titles after turning 40. TT legend Jan Ove Waldner performed until he was 47 — born in 1965, he received his final nationwide title in 2010 and final membership title in 2012. Footballer Francesco Totti retired on the age of 40 after taking part in 786 video games for Serie A membership Roma.

Dravid himself performed at a really excessive degree until he was 39. The Chennai Super Kings staff has nearly change into a meme due to the older gamers within the staff however it has additionally made them essentially the most profitable staff within the league. Experience does matter.

With fashionable advances in sports activities science, it’s greater than attainable for an athlete to play at a really excessive degree for a very long time, physique and thoughts allowing. Age, as Bopanna and so many others have proven us, is typically only a quantity. Better to maintain it that approach.