Top Game Winning, Losing and a New Understanding of Sport

Description

Why have some nations been at the top of the Olympics medal tally for

decades? Why is it that India is still to win an Olympic athletics medal? What

does it take to become a Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic, a Muhammad Ali

or Viswanathan Anand? Why do we see black sportspersons dominating certain

sports but not others?

Sport is full of many such intriguing, largely unanswered questions. This

book trawls through history and sports science to come up with some

fascinating answers. It helps us understand why, for instance, the top three

in men's tennis have won over 50 Grand Slams between them, and why

some excellent sportspersons or teams end up losing even when they are on

the verge of victory. In ten chapters, Binoo John looks at the early role of

parental ambition; Anders Ericson's famous theory on human achievement

and excellence; the important role of national wealth and aspiration; and the

critical role of a burning desire to win. Along the way, he also shoots down

some popular and accepted notions of sporting excellence.

A grand sweep of modern sporting history and the making of champions, Top

Game is a great read-not only for every sports enthusiast and sportsperson,

but also for anyone interested in the mystery, the glory-and also the

tragedy-of human endeavour.