The Vietnam War was at its peak, American soldiers were dying in huge numbers, protesters were burning down draft cards and there was an exodus of objectors fleeing to Canada. Muhammad Ali reached the Armed Forces Induction Center, Houston a little before 8 a.m. on April 28, 1967. Ali had no plans of flying to Canada but he didn’t have plans to be inducted into the Army as well.

“My conscience won’t let me shoot my brother, or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big powerful America,” he had made his stance clear two years back. “And shoot them for what? They never called me nigger, they never lynched me, they didn’t put no dogs on me, they didn’t rob me of my nationality, rape and kill my mother and father. … Shoot them for what? How can I shoot poor people? Just take me to jail.”

Superstar boxer Ali was drafted by the United States military in 1966. He was called up for induction in 1967. What happened at the induction was rather fascinating and dramatic. He attended the induction but did not answer to his name or take the oath which led to his arrest and conviction thereafter, The US Supreme Court overturned the decision in 1971.

ALI- A MESSIAH FOR PEACE

Ali questioned the very logic of putting on an army uniform and venturing ten thousand miles away from home to drop bombs and fire bullets on brown people in Vietnam when there was blatant discrimination of Negro people in Louisville, America. The racial segregation and treatment meted out to people of darker color was alarming and Ali felt they were treated like dogs and deprived of even simple human rights.

Going to Vietnam was like helping murder and burn down another poor and deprived nation only for the purpose of the domination of white supremacy as slave masters of the darker or people of colour around the world, Ali felt. The boxing legend marked that day as the day when such social evils must come to a fitting end. He believed in equality among humankind and thought of racism and wars as a bane of this world.

The pugilist also stated that he had been warned that to take this bold and open stance would be too risky for his boxing career and the associated fame and millions of dollars that come with being the champion. His stance did put a lot of his personal stakes at jeopardy but he did what he thought was just, he said what he thought was right.

The Rise of a HERO

Ali once told a group of college anti-war protesters that he had been given two options, either to go to jail or join the army. He earnestly added that he had another alternative and that alternative is justice.

He argued that if the war was going to bring freedom and equality to 22 million of his people they wouldn’t have to draft him, he would join the army without any delay in that case. For him the greatest verdict that mattered was not from the law of the land but from Allah because he felt one is rewarded for standing up to one’s beliefs and he did not shy away from standing up for truth and justice.

“So I’ll go to jail. We’ve been in jail for four hundred years”.

Banned from boxing, he along with his attorneys would fight it out for the next four years appealing the Supreme Court verdict. As the Vietnam War grew to be increasingly unpopular especially amongst the young masses, Ali made striking speeches on university campuses, which catapulted him to the status of an antiwar and civil rights hero.

His popularity and righteousness won so many hearts and attracted limelight that even the great civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. lauded Ali’s decision to become a conscientious objector. Muhammad Ali’s boxing license was restored in 1970. After much courtroom drama, Justice Harlan, who was examining the case was convinced that Ali was truly a conscientious objector and was opposed to wars of any kind.

He was a victim of the system trying to paint him as a racist but stood up against all odds to fight the system on the back of his strong righteous principles and Allah’s teachings. Muhammad Ali was so close to going to jail but his conviction was overturned.

“I thank Allah. And I thank the Supreme Court for recognizing the sincerity of the religious teachings that I’ve accepted,” Ali said after he heard the verdict.

In January 1974, Ali took down Frazier and went on to challenge George Foreman who was the reigning heavyweight champion, in a match that was dubbed as the “Rumble in the Jungle ” because it was held in Congo. Formerly known as Zaire. His knockout victory inside the ring was symbolic of his victory outside the ring against racial discrimination and inequality.

On International Peace Day, what can be more fitting than paying tribute to the one of the greatest sports persons of all time who championed the cause of peace and equality.

A HERO INSIDE THE RING. A HERO OUTSIDE THE RING. PEACE ALWAYS TRIUMPHS!

The post How Muhammad Ali stood for PEACE and won his greatest fight outside the ring appeared first on Doer Life.

Jamal’s fifth idea is Chennai’s First Accredited Surf School

Bay of Life School in Chennai is the first accredited surf school in Tamil Nadu. Nestled in Kovalam Chennai, surfing lessons are offered at a surf spot in Covelong on the East Coast Road.

In the early 2000s, Showkath Jamal dreamed of two things – to become a teacher or to become an entrepreneur. But due to family pressures and tradition he had to complete five years of law school. After he got his Masters in Business Law in 2004, he dived straight into teaching law to BA students while on the side, volunteering with the Crocodile Bank and the Snake Park in Chennai. Then in 2005, he set up his first entrepreneurial venture a BPO. Then came another venture in 2009, Yo Potato, an online food delivery platform that was like ‘Swiggy before Android’. But sadly everything failed.

He then went to the Kalinga Centre for Rainforest Ecology (KCRE) to study wildlife conservation. But with hardly any forest reserves in Chennai, he turned to look at the ocean as a big reserve with extensive marine biodiversity.

One day as he watched foreigners surf on the beach, he thought to himself, “the ocean is the largest reserve on earth. If we start a surf school where we can teach people about the ocean and how they can enjoy it, then people will come and take care of it,”

He first took surf lessons from the foreigners and later invited a senior surfer, Reece McGowen, from California to teach a small team to surf for a period of six months.

In 2011, Showkath Jamal founded the ‘Bay of Life’ School. He wanted to encourage sustainable sports without harming the ocean.

Sustainable is not easy

The Bay of Life School offers various activities such as surfing, paddling, ocean kayaking, swimming, windsurfing, kite surfing, which do not use motorboats. The response was great from day one but not without challenges. Getting NOCs (No Objection Certificates) and requisite permissions from the local government was time consuming, mainly nobody then knew much about the sport or how the school could help to preserve the oceans. Besides, the Kovalam beach then was used as an open public toilet by the fishermen who resided there.

Bay of Life School – The Team

The Bay of Life School has 14 trained surfers who have trained 9,000 students. They have also conducted surf lessons for 25 armed forces from the aviation team, free of charge. The instructors teach ocean sport to anyone from 6 years to 60 years. They teach them to enjoy, love and take care of the ocean. Some of the other key team members besides Showkath Jamal, the Founder, are:-

• Kamesh, Gokul, Karthik (Instructors and ocean lovers from Mahabalipuram fishing hamlet)
• Sumeet Gulechha (Founder of Rincon Realty and an avid surfer)
• Siddharth Chandrashekar (Masters in Zoology, spearheading the school outdoor science programs)
• Jai Prabhoo (The General Manager and Man Friday)
• Michael Steve (AUSTSWIM instructor of swim training and water safety)

Campus Kovalam

Campus Kovalam is an initiative of the Bay of Life School. It conducts marine field trips for school children teaching them topography, tides, ecosystem, taxonomy, release bycatch, and more. The classes have two parts – a half-a-kilometre walk along the beach, and a visit to field stations like CMFRI (Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute) and CIBA (Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture).

The School has reached about 12,000 introducing them to a future career in marine biology.

The Bay of Life Foundation

With a team of Environmentalists, Architects, Engineers, Geologists, Herpetologists and Zoologists, Bay of Life Foundation fights to conserve our oceans for our future generations by inspiring a personal connection to the environment and help develop the actions to sustain it. The NGO funds several conservation activities from the profits of Bay of Life Surf School.

The foundation has taught over 3000+ children. It has helped to make them aware of environmental issues, effects of trash management and water pollution.

In the last 5 years, the Bay Life Foundation has also cleared over 24 tons of trash through coordinated mass cleanups and daily cleanups by local women who work on monthly wages. Chennai can boast of a clean beach and helping to save turtles from extinction.

Certifications and Awards

In 10 years, Bay Life School has earned

• 6 international certifications
• 3 awards
• 3 national records and
• 1 world record

The Future is here (2021- 2025)

After the success of The Bay Life School, Showkath plans to open five self-managed centres along the eastern and western coasts. He aims to start with areas around Mumbai, and then expand it to Tier-II cities. Though the pandemic badly hit their Team Outings’ programme, post-August 2020, they have got back on their feet. The school also offer scuba diving lessons now in association with Dive India.

The post Bay of Life School Goes Beyond Surfing appeared first on Doer Life.

Shivani Pruthvi, (23 years old), and her mother Deepthi Pruthvi,(51 years old ), from Devangere , Karnataka, have been blazing the course as rally racers and chasing this high. They have been setting new benchmarks by forraying into this predominantly” a man’s world” arena.

Shivani has been fond of sports since she was a child. She has been trained in roller skates at a very early age and went on to participate and win many state-level competitions. She also played badminton, tennis and was even a part of the girl’s basketball team in high school. “I always enjoyed participating in extracurricular activities more than I did studies. It was a habit I imbibed from my father — BS Pruthvi, who was a rally racer in Bengaluru during the 90s,” says Shivani.

While pursuing her second year in medicine, she picked up the passion and art of racing from her father, who himself is a well-known racer in Bengaluru’s racing circuit and also made headlines in local media for completing the last 0 kilometers for a local club rally on a ?at tyre in 1992.

Soon Shivani found herself as a professional racer and won the Sprint de Bangaluru. She became India’s ?rst female racer at the Asia auto gymkhana championship. A new journey of speed and adrenaline begun and in 2019 when she decided to participate in rallies, the search for a navigator surprisingly ended at home with Deepthi, her mom. This partnership, was absolutely perfect since Deepthi had been by now become a passive racer, with her husband playing the game, and who knows a daughter better than a mother.

Apart from the professional partnership, as a mother, they exchange a relationship of care and trust on the racks as well. Shivani and her dad trained Deepthi, who was made to sit in an unventilated room wearing a seven-layer protective gear and a helmet.

“It was hard and stressful, but that has been my life as a doctor too. So I could manage it. Medicine has taught me how valuable time is and how every second is crucial. The same goes for racing, one small mistake from the navigator could lead to a crash,” says Deepthi.

The efforts de?nitely paid off on the tracks, and this dynamic mother-daughter duo triumphed over the trophy in the ladies category of the south India rally. Shivani Pruthvi, who has now completed her MBBS degree, plans to pursue a master’s in medicine and balance out her passion for racing on weekends and holidays.

The post Meet the mother-daughter racer duo, Shivani and Deepthi Pruthvi, who balances between scalpel and speed appeared first on Doer Life.

Rather this was her last resort to raise some money together husbands MRI done. It was de?nitely not a smooth run, starting from preparations, or to convince the organizers, and stepping on pointy stones, burning her bare feet, with her saree hitched up amidst runners with fancy running shoes and sports gear, as she ran for love, simply to save the life of her Bhagwan.

That’s right, Bhagwan Kare, Lata Kare”s husband diagnosed with vascular disease, needed immediate medication and tests. When there’s a goal, and dedication, you are sure to win. As her chest touched the red ribbon, tears rolled down her cheeks, but excited and anxious with her ?rst achievement, she proudly walked up the stage and collected the prize money.

This 5000 rupees winning amount may seem quite negligible to many, but for this lady, this was the blessings of the almighty at this hour of crisis. This Marathon not only rewarded her with a monetary prize that took care of her husband’s medical expenses, but also opened a new window to another world of possibilities, and here on, the saree sprinter continued her run to win three more such marathons.

Lata found a motive and also a source of earning to an extent and continued her run for marathons. According to her, love makes you fearless and optimistic and makes things possible. She adds, that even if society doesn’t believe in you, or laughs at what she has been doing, there is one person who will be your cheerleader Her inspiring story lead to the movie adaptation in Marathi, directed by Naveen Deshaboina, and with the real-time cast. This feisty lady didn’t shy away to play the lead role, and this ?lm released in 2020 bagged the National Film Award – Special Mention at the 67th National Film Awards.

The film narrates the journey of this inspiring 68-year Lata kare and her husband Bhagwan Kare, from a small village, in Maharashtra. The family thrived on daily work in neighboring farms, and post-marrying off their daughters, they just managed a meager to suffice just for their daily essentials. When an unprecedented medical emergency regarding Bhagwans vascular health, lata had no option but to step out to arrange the expenses. When the couple came out from the hospital with despair, the almighty opened doors through a piece of newspaper plating samosas from a street vendor.

She took up this challenge and left no stones unturned towards the journey of winning her first marathon and raise 5000 bucks for her husband’s treatment. Several scenes in the film have a long-lasting impact on the audience. Since the characters are real, the impact becomes stronger. The struggle, pain, and instances from Lata’s life are so real that one doesn’t mind minor glitches in dubbing and cinematography.

Surprisingly, Lata and all other cast have done a convincing job playing and re-living the same emotions on the screen. The film will have a deep impact on the audience and it is a must-watch for those who want to know about the inspiring woman Lata Bhagwan Kare.

Unfortunately, when things were falling in place and this couple who have thrived through poverty and challenges in sustaining a livelihood, and were achieving all that they deserved, life played unfairly again. The sequel to lata Bhagwan Kare was all set, but Lata’s husband Bhagwan Kare recently succumbed to covid 19, the pandemic which has been taking the world through the most challenging grim ever.

Part two to this movie is on hold for the time being, but surely none can stop this inspiring lady, because she runs not with limbs but with a heart so pure and powerful.

The post Lata Kare: The 68-year-old who ran to save her husband appeared first on Doer Life.

Zinedine Yazid Zidane was born on June 23, 1972 in La Castellane, a northern suburb of Marseille, France. He was the youngest of the five siblings born to Algerian migrants, Smaïl and Malika, who emigrated to Paris from Aguemoune in northern Algeria in 1953. His father was employed as a warehouseman and nightwatchman at a department store, while his mother was a housewife. The youngest of five (Lila, Madjid, Farid, Noureddine), Zinedine Zidane grew up in the crime-driven community of Marseille to become the greatest French footballer. He took to football at the age of 5 years where he played with other migrant boys in the main square of a neighbouring housing complex the 80 by 12 yard plaza of the Place Tartane. Besides football he was also fond of cycling and skateboarding and received a green belt in judo.

Zidane in later years said the dimensions of the pitch, and the heavy competition amongst his peers were instrumental in developing his famed technique, “It’s hard to explain but I have a need to play intensely every day, to fight every match hard. And this desire never to stop fighting is something else I learnt in the place where I grew up”. At 14 Zidane signed with AS Cannes, after attending a training camp run by the French football federation.

Career start

He began his youth career in football with AS Foresta in 1981. He also played for two other clubs then namely the US Saint-Henri and SO Septemes-les-Vallons. In 1986, he proceeded to Cannes, with whom he made his debut as a youth player in the French first division at the age of 17. It was no easy climb. He was often victim to racial discrimination. Once while playing at Cannes Zizou punched an opponent who had mocked his origins for which he was punished and made to work as a cleaner in the club. But the young Zidane was not going to give up easy. He 1989, he made his professional debut in the Ligue 1 for Cannes. In February 1991 in a match against Nantes, Zidane scored his first-senior career goal for a 2-1 win for Cannes. As a prize Zidane received a car from the Cannes Chairman, Alain Pedretti.  In total he had scored 6 goals in 61 matches.

In 1992, he signed with Girondins Bordeaux. He followed it up with a debut for the national team in 1994 where he scored just 17 minutes after coming on in the second half. Zidane was with Bordeaux for 4 years before joined the Serie A giants, Juventus in 1996.

A legend was born

Juventus purchased Zidane for around 2 million pounds. There he trained under Marcello Lippi, learning the finer nuances of the game. Zidane’s winning streak began. He won the European Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, and Scudetto in the very first season at the Bianconeri.  The ensuing season Zizou scored 7 goals in 38 matches, winning his second national title.

In 1998, World Cup, Zidane led the “Les Bleus” to victory after scoring 2 of France’s 3 goals in the final against Brazil. It was the first time France won brought home a world cup, and millions celebrated the victory at the Champs-Elysees.  Zidane’s image was projected on the Arc de Triomphe with the words “Merci Zizou”. He had become a national hero. Zidane was conferred the Ballon D’or in the same year.

In 2000 Zidane won his second Ballon D’or after beating Italy in the finals of the Euros. 

The Real Madrid Star

After his triumph and honor Real Madrid approached Zidane. In July 2001, the president of the Club, Florentino Perez, finally signed up Zinedine Zidane for Real Madrid at a whopping 37 million pounds. Not only did Zidane go on to win his first European title that season but followed it through with the La Liga title, as well as his second Intercontinental and Uefa Super cups. 

“I wanted to win the European Cup and I wanted to win it with Real Madrid”, said Zidane during his official presentation as a Madrid player. And he did just that!

HONOURS

Honours as a player:

• 1 European Cup
• 1 Intercontinental Cup
• 1 European Super Cup
• 1 League
• 2 Spanish Super Cups
• 1 World Cup with France
• 1 European Championship with France

Honours as a coach:

• 3 European Cup
• 2 Fifa Club World Cup
• 2 European Super Cup
• 2 League
• 2 Spanish Super Cup

(Info credit: httpss://www.realmadrid.com/)

The game goes on

The Adidas endorser, Zidane ended his professional football career at Real Madrid, after playing in the 2006 World Cup final in Germany. In 2016, he joined Real Madrid to become the Manager of the team. Now his 4 sons follow in his footstep. Enzo, Luca, Theo and Elyaz play for various clubs. Zidane got married to the Spanish Verinoque Fernandez in 1994. He is now estimated at a net worth of USD 70 million.

The post Zinedine Zidane – The Artistic Footballer appeared first on Doer Life.

Andy Murray’s Career

2005

At 17 he begins to play professional tennis and is ranked 407 in the world tennis rankings and represents Britain in the Davis Cup.

2006

At San Jose, USA Andy Murray wins his first ATP Tour title – the SAP Open. Again in 2006, he defeats opponents Greg Rusedski and Tim Henman to become Britain’s No.1 tennis player.

2007

Enters the world’s top tennis players for the first time.

2009

Andy Murray defeated USA’s James Blake to Becomes the first British player since 1938 to win at Queen’s Club.

2012

In July 2012 for the first time, Andy Murray qualified for the finals at Wimbledon up against Roger Federer but lost in the finals. However, in August 2012 he won two medals at the Olympics (a silver in the mixed doubles, alongside Laura Robson, and a gold in the men’s singles defeating Federer on Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.) In the same year in September, he won the US Open, defeating Djokovic.

2013

Murray beats Djokovic at Wimbledon to become the first British winner of the men’s singles title since Fred Perry in 1936. 17.3 million British TV viewers were glued to their TV screens watching him play. He became an overnight social media sensation on British Facebook, overtaking all other British personalities and events.

On October 17, 2013, he earned the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) medal from HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.

2015

In November 2015 Andy Murray led Great Britain to a tenth Davis Cup title by beating David Goffin 6-3 7-5 6-3.

2016

The Golden Year. Became the first player to win a Grand Slam, the ATP Tour Finals, and the men’s singles at the Olympic Games. Murray had reached No. 1 in the world ranking ousting Djokovic from his position winning a grand total of 9 titles in 2016.

2017

Sadly, unable to play during the year due to a hip injury, Andy relinquished his World Number 1 ranking to Nadal.

2018

Due to his recent operation, Andy withdrew from Wimbledon with a “heavy heart” his health would not allow him the luxury of playing five-set matches. His ATP ranking had now dropped to 839th in his newest low since he first entered the ATP Rankings on 21 July 2003. Today his Single’s ranking is 116.

2019

Andy Murray was officially knighted on May 16, 2017, by Prince Charles at the Buckingham Palace for his services to tennis and charity. In the same year, he received the 2016 ATP No. 1 Award, 2019 ATP Comeback Player of the Year Award and 2014 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award.

2020

In September 2020, Andy wins his first Grand Slam match after a gap of 20 months beating Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.

A peek into Andy Murray’s personal life

• Born on 15 May 1987, Andy began to play tennis at age 3 encouraged by his mother Judy.
• Andy was born with a bipartite patella, where the kneecap remains as two separate bones instead of naturally fusing during childhood. He was unaware of the condition until he turned 16.
• As a child, he witnessed and escaped the 1996 Dunblane school massacre when Thomas Hamilton killed 16 children and a teacher before shooting himself in the school where Andy studied.
• Loves football and ice cream as much as tennis.
• His brother, Jamie Murray, plays doubles on ATP Tour.
• He has an honorary doctorate from the University of Stirling, where he trained.
• – He is the Global Ambassador for UNICEF, United for Wildlife, Malaria No More and WWF.
• Andy has been featured in GQ Magazine’s 20 Most Stylish Athletes of 2013.
• Andy Murray received Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year 2013
• He became the 1st 3-time award winner of BBC Sports Personality of the Year, taking home the prestigious award in 2013, 2015 and 2016.
• For £1.8 million Andy purchased and renovated the Cromlix Hotel in Dunblane, a 5star property with 15 exclusive rooms. Before he owned it, he had attended his brother Jamie’s wedding and his
• Grandparents’ 40th anniversary at the property.
• He owns 77 Sports Management agency that handles his career and the career of other rising tennis aspirants.
• Murray is an angel investor and has invested in 30 UK businesses through the crowdfunding platform, Seedrs.
• His net worth is approximately USD 165 million.
• Andy married Kim Sears on April 1, 2015, in Dunblane Cathedral. They have two daughters, Sophia and Edie, and a son named Teddy.

The post ANDY MURRAY – The Greatest Tennis Player in the history of Great Britain appeared first on Doer Life.

Among the Olympic legends Nadia Comaneci, Usain Bolt, and Carl Lewis, another name that most strikingly stands out is – Michael Phelps. With 28 medals of which 23 are gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze, he is arguably the most decorated Olympian ever by the sheer number of medals won. Michael Phelps a competitive swimmer participated in 4 Olympic Games between 2004 (Athens) and 2016 (Rio) breaking Mark Spitz’s record for most victories at a single Olympic during the Beijing Olympics in 2008 where he won a staggering 8 golds. In 2017, the Olympic retired from swimming and joined the board of Medibio, a company focused on the diagnosis of mental health disorders. Today the swimming star is worth USD 80 million with endorsement deals like Omega, Speedo, Subway, Wheaties, Visa, and Under Armour under his belt.

Growing Up

Michael Fred Phelps II born on June 30, 1985, is of English, German, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh descent. His mother, Deborah Sue works in a school as a middle school principal and his father, Michael Fred Phelps, is a retired Maryland State Trooper. After his parents divorced in 1994, Phelps was raised by his mother Deborah, alongside his sisters Hilary and Whitney. According to Phelps, the divorce did have a lasting effect on him emotionally. After many years Phelps came out in the open to talk about it, saying, “Over the past couple of years, I have become a lot more open about my struggle with depression and have shared my mantra that – it’s ok to not be ok. I am so grateful that I’ve been able to positively impact the lives of those struggling with their own mental health by simply sharing mine.” 

Phelps began swimming at the age of 7. At the age of 10, he became a national record holder in the 100-meter butterfly. After that victory, he got enrolled in the North Baltimore Aquatic Club to train under Coach Bob Bowman to become a pro. More age group records followed. A prodigy at his sport, he went to Sydney 2000 aged just 15 – the youngest man in the USA team for an Olympic Games (in 68 years). He did not win the 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd positions but finished 5^th in the 200m butterfly. From then on, there was no looking back. Phelps dominated the next four Olympic Games, becoming the world’s best swimmer.

He is no longer a competitive swimmer now. He is married to Nicole, and a father to three sons, Boomer, Becker, and Maverick.

Olympic Experience

• Five-time Olympian (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016); 28-time Olympic medalist (23 golds, 3 silvers, 2 bronzes)
• Rio 2016 Olympic Games, gold (4x100m medley, 4x100m free, 200m fly, 4x200m free, 200m medley); silver (100m fly)
• London 2012 Olympic Games, gold (100m fly, 200m medley, 4x100m medley, 4x200m free); silver (200m fly, 4x100m free); 4th (400m medley)
• Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, gold (100m fly, 200m fly, 200m free, 200m medley, 400m medley, 4x100m free, 4x200m free, 4x100m medley)
• Athens 2004 Olympic Games, gold (100m fly, 200m fly, 200m medley, 400m medley, 4x200m free, 4x100m medley); bronze (200m free, 4x100m free)
• Sydney 2000 Games, 5th (200m fly)
• With 28 medals – including 23 golds – Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time
• Became the first American male swimmer to qualify for five Olympic teams in June 2016
• In 2000, he became the youngest male Olympian since 1932 and his eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games is an Olympic record
• During the Beijing Games, Phelps set seven world records, eight American records and eight Olympic records

(Information credit: Team USA)

World Championship Experience

• Most recent: 2011 – gold (100m fly, 200m fly, 4x200m free, 4x100m medley); silver (200m free, 200m medley), bronze (4x100m free)
• Years of participation: Long Course – 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011; Short Course – 2004
• Medals: 34 (27 golds, 6 silvers, 1 bronze)
• Gold – 2001 (200m fly); 2003 (200m fly, 200m medley, 400m medley, 4x100m medley); 2004 (200m free); 2005 (200m free, 200m medley, 4x100m medley, 4x100m free, 4x200m free); 2007 (100m fly, 200m fly, 200m free, 200m medley, 400m medley, 4x100m free, 4x200m free); 2009 (100m fly, 200m fly, 400m free, 800m free, 4x100m medley); 2011 (100m fly, 200m fly, 4x200m free, 4x100m medley)
• Silver – 2003 (100m fly, 4x200m free); 2005 (100m fly); 2009 (200m free); 2011 (200m free, 200m medley)
• Bronze – 2011 (4x100m free)
• His four individual world records and seven gold medals at the 2007 World Championships made him the winningest athlete in world championship history.

(Information credit: Team USA)

The Michael Phelps Foundation

Phelps has set-up a charitable foundation. After his own struggle with depression, he established the foundation with greater emphasis on the mental health of children.

– Established in 2008 by Michael Phelps after returning from the Beijing Olympics. Phelps toured 8 cities in the US to share the dream about his foundation.

– In 2009, the foundation joined hands with KidsHealth.org to develop a signature program, IM, named after Michael’s signature event the Individual Medley. IM more than a swimming class teaches water-safety and helps to balance physical and mental wellness among young minds. It is a goal-setting program.

– Along with Olympians Ross Powers, Lenny Krazelburg, Seth Wescott and Daron Rahlves, the foundation launched the Level Field Fund in 2010, a grant-giving program that provides funding for uniquely talented athletes in need of financial support.

– The foundation raised over USD 60,000 with its Caps for a Cause fundraiser.

– The foundation continues to work to promote healthy, active lives, especially for children, mainly by expanding their opportunities in the sport of swimming.

Swimming to Success

Caeleb Dressel the champion swimmer after winning two gold medals in relays at the 2016 Rio Olympics, is training for the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle races, along with the 100-meter butterfly for the Tokyo Olympics rescheduled from July 23 to August 8, 2020. At world championships in July 2020, he won a record eight medals, six gold, and broke Michael Phelps’ decade-old world record in the 100-meter butterfly.

Michael Phelps, until the next one swims to success with more than 28 medals, you will remain the undisputed Olympic KING!

The post Michael Phelps – The World’s No.1 Olympian appeared first on Doer Life.

Early Start

Virat Kohli born on November 5, 1988 in Delhi is the third child of Prem and Saroj Kohli. He has an older brother Vikash and an older sister Bhavna. According to his family, Virat was only 3 years when he first picked up the cricket bat. He attended Vishal Bharti Public School and later shifted to Saviour Convent in Paschim Vihar to help his cricket practice. In 2015, the family moved to Gurgaon (now Gurugram).

In 1998, when West Delhi Cricket Academy was founded, Virat Kohli, a nine-year-old cricket enthusiast joined the academy to learn professional cricket. He trained under Rajkumar Sharma. He played for Delhi Under-15 team (2002), Polly Umrigar Trophy (2003-04), Vijay Merchant Trophy Under-17 (2003-04). 

At the age of 18 years, in 2006 Virat made his first-class debut for Delhi against Tamil Nadu in November 2006, scoring just 10 in his debut innings. But in December when he decided to play for his team against Karnataka on the day after his father’s death on December 18, 2006 and went on to score 90, the nation watched the determination of a true cricketer. India bereaved with him.

According to Kohli, his father was his real Guru supporting his cricket training since childhood, “My father was my biggest support. He was the one who drove me to practice every day. I miss his presence sometimes.”

Virat Kohli made his ODI Debut against Sri Lanka in August 2008. In early 2008 Virat Captained the Indian U-19 team to victory at the 2008 ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup in Malaysia.

During the 2011 South African series, Kohli was named for the 2011 World Cup. He played every match in India’s World Cup winning series and also scored a century in the tournament helping lead the team towards victory.

In the seven-match ODI series against Australia in 2013, Kohli struck the fastest century by an Indian in ODI.

In 2014, he was appointed the vice-captain of the ODI team which Virat says, he owes to everything MS Dhoni taught him. The rest is history.

T20I

Kohli made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in 2010. During South Africa’s tour of India in 2015, Kohli crossed the 1,000 runs mark in T20I cricket and became the fastest batsman to do so. In the 2016 ICC World Twenty20, Virat Kohli played an unbeaten 82 from 51 balls to win against Australia. He ended the tournament with 273 runs in 5 matches that earned him his second consecutive Man of the Tournament award at the World Twenty20.

Records

Among the Indian batsmen, Virat Kohli has the best ever Test, ODI and Twenty20 International ratings. In ODIs, Kohli has the second highest number of centuries and the highest number of centuries in run-chases in the world. He is also the fastest batsman to 8,000, 9,000, 10,000 and 11,000 runs in ODI cricket, reaching the milestones in 175, 194, 205 and 222 innings respectively.

National Honours

2013 – Arjuna Award

2017 – Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award.

2018 – Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna

Honours and awards

• Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy (ICC Cricketer of the Year): 2017, 2018
• ICC ODI Player of the Year: 2012, 2017, 2018
• ICC Test Player of the Year: 2018
• ICC ODI Team of the Year: 2012, 2014, 2016 (captain), 2017 (captain), 2018 (captain), 2019 (captain)
• ICC Test Team of the Year: 2017 (captain), 2018 (captain), 2019 (captain)
• ICC Spirit of Cricket: 2019
• Polly Umrigar Award for International Cricketer of the Year: 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
• Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World: 2016, 2017, 2018
• CEAT International Cricketer of the Year: 2011–12, 2013–14, 2018-19
• Barmy Army – International Player of Year: 2017, 2018
• A stand at Arun Jaitley Stadium is named Virat Kohli Stand on 12 September 2019.

(All Honours information courtesy Viraat Kohli Wikipedia)

IPL Career

Kohli started his IPL career with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on a youth contract in 2008. In his inaugural season, he scored only 165 runs in 12 innings. But in 2009 and 2010, he scored 246 and 307 runs respectively. In 2011 Kohli scored 557 runs, second only to Chris Gayle in the 2011 season with a strike rate of 121.

In 2013, Kohli was the third highest run getter scoring 634 runs including six fifties at a strike rate of over 138. In 2015, Kohli’s batting performance helped his team reach the playoffs as he scored 505 runs at an average of 45.90.

Royal Challengers finished the 2016 season as the runners-up and Kohli broke the record for most runs in an IPL season. Virat Kohli, scored 973 runs, including four centuries and also became the first player to reach the 4000-run milestone in the IPL. He also received the Orange Cap in the 2016 season.

Before the start of the 2018 season, Kohli was retained by the RCB for a price of INR 17 crores. In the 2019 season of the IPL, he became the second player to reach 5000 runs in IPL.

From September 19, 2020, Indians will be glued to their TV screens once again to watch Virat play this season of IPL.

The Virushka angle

The soon to be parents Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma have just recently shared the good news with their fans worldwide. The couple was married on December 11, 2017 in Florence, Italy.

Virat Kohli spoke about his reaction when he met Anushka for the first time in 2013 on an episode of Graham Bensinger’s talk show ‘In Depth with Graham Bensinger’ – “The first time I met her I cracked a joke immediately. I was very nervous and that’s why I cracked a joke because I didn’t know what to do. I was standing on sets and was being all nervous and jittery.”

During India’s loss in the 2015 World Cup semi-final, when trolls blamed Anushka for Virat’s distraction and early dismissal, he immediately took her side, writing a strong message on social media. It said, “Shame on those people who have been having a go at Anushka for the longest time and connecting every negative thing to her. Shame on those people calling themselves educated. Shame on blaming and making fun of her when she has no control over what I do with my sport. If anything, she has only motivated and given me more positivity.”

The beautiful couple was after all meant to be together.

Endorsements

Since 2008 Bunty Sajdeh of Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment is managing Kohli’s endorsement deals. The king of brand endorsement for a princely price of INR 4-4.5 crores per day has lent his name to some famous brands including,

2019

• Google Duo: Ambassador of Google Duo, he and Anushka are also featured in an advertisement for the brand.
• Colgate: To endorse Colgate’s new, Neon.
• Blue Star: Air conditioning and Refrigeration Company.
• Wellman: Supplements brand.
• Himalaya: Brand ambassador to the wellness firm Himalaya Drug Company.
• Mobile Premier League (MPL): Brand ambassador for Mobile eSports platform, MPL.

2018

• Philips India: Brand ambassador of Philips trimmers.
• Uber: Brand ambassador of app-based taxi service Uber.
• Boost Energy: GSK’s leading health drink Boost Energy.
• Amaze inverters and batteries: Advertisement for power products.
• Hero MotoCorp: Endorses Xtreme 200R.
• Volini: Official brand ambassador for Sun Pharma’s Volini pain relief products.
• Remit 2: Remit 2 India appoints Virat Kohli as its face of advertising.

2017

• Puma (One8): The Kohli-Puma ?100 crore deal for Puma apparel, footwear and accessories.
• MRF Tyres: Renews his contract with the company for the next eight years. Team India captain also uses the bat sponsorship by MRF Tyres for his matches.
• MuveAcoustics: For Hong Kong-based electronics company Zeeva.
• Too Yumm: Healthy snack health ambassador.
• Royal Challenge: Endorsing Royal Challenge Whisky.

2016

• Tissot: Chrono XL Classic Virat Kohli Special Edition has replaced 8 with18 in red to denote the number of Kohli’s Team India jersey.
• Audi: German Luxury Car Brand in India starting with Audi A6 launch
• American Tourister: Ambassador of American of Tourister luggage.
• Manyavar: Men’s ethnic wear.

2015

• Wrogn clothing by Universal Sportsbiz (USPL), is co-created by Kohli.

Charity and Service

On field the most aggressive cricketer, off field Virat shows his softer side through the ‘Virat Kohli Foundation (VKF)’. The charity founded in March 2013, aims at helping underprivileged kids.

Virat conducts events, Bollywood charity matches, charity auctions, and more to raise funds for the foundation. According to him, the foundation works with select NGOs to “create awareness, seek support and raise funds for the various causes they endorse and the philanthropic work they engage in”. 

Victorious Virat Kohli is not just India’s well-known cricketer but a role model to every aspiring cricketer. From cricketer to father-to-be, his story has become inspiring, incredible and adorable.

The post Virat Kohli, India’s incredible Cricket Captain and most adorable father-to-be appeared first on Doer Life.

David Robert Joseph Beckham was born in Leytonstone, England on May 2, 1975 to Sandra Georgina and David Edward Alan Beckham. He grew up with his elder sister Lynne Georgina and younger sister Joanne Louise. David attended the Chase Lane Primary School and Chingford County High School but more than studies enjoyed his time playing football at Ridgeway Park. His parents were Manchester United fans so football was always a topic of conversation at home. His father was also a coach for a local team Ridgeway Rovers. Further trained at Bobby Charlton’s Football School and at FC Barcelona, he was already the Under-15 Player of the Year in 1990.  From a young age and by the time he was 18 years, played for Manchester United’s first team. On July 8, 1991, he was signed up as a trainee by Manchester United.

David, the skilled footballer had just entered the field.

A Manchester United Star

David’s popularity began to grow as he scored for Manchester United. He made the senior team debut in 1992, and from 1995-96 season to the next 8 seasons led the team towards 6 Premier League titles. Beckham scored 62 goals and became an international football star.

In 2003, Beckham’s lifestyle created a rift with his coach Alex Ferguson who apparently kicked Beckam on his face. Unable to continue United Manchester sold Beckham to Real Madrid for €37 million.

Kicking around the world

From 2003 to 2007, David Beckham played for Real Madrid in the Spanish league La Liga. From there he moved to the United States signing up a contract for USD 32.5 million with the MLS for the LA Galaxy. In 2013, he went to play for PSG in the French league. David Beckham retired from football at the end of the 2013 season.

FIFA World Cups

David Beckham was initially a substitute at the 1998 World Cup. In the round of 16 match against Argentina, Beckham was sent off for kicking Diego Simeone while lying on the pitch. For this he faced the wrath of numerous fans and sadly England even lost the match on penalties.

During the 2002 World Cup, Beckham was the team captain of England but he was unable to lead his team to victory. They lost to Brazil in the quarter-finals.

Beckham’s final world cup tournament was the 2006 World Cup. By scoring a free-kick winner in the round of 16 against Ecuador, he helped the team reach the quarter-finals. Sadly, Beckham the team Captain got dehydrated, could not ply further and had to be substituted after half-time against Portugal. Portugal scored on penalties and won the game. A day later, Beckham stepped down as team captain.

David Beckham scored a goal in all three World Cups.

Clubs

• Manchester United (1992–2003)
• Preston North End (1994–1995, loan)
• Real Madrid (2003–2007)
• LA Galaxy (2007–2012)
• Milan (2009, loan)
• Milan (2010, loan)
• Paris Saint-Germain (2013)

Stats

• Club football: 523 matches, 97 goals
• National team: 115 matches, 17 goals

(Clubs and Stats courtesy Football History)

Personal life

“Posh and Becks” began to date in 1997 and were married on July 4, 1999, at Luttrellstown Castle in Ireland. The wedding reception that cost £500,000 sold rights to OK! Magazine to obtain exclusive photos for an undisclosed amount. In 1999, shortly after the wedding the couple bought a country house set in 24 acres in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, which the media nicknamed “Beckingham Palace”.

David and Posh Spice Victoria Beckham have four children: sons Brooklyn Joseph, Romeo James, Cruz David and daughter Harper Seven

David’s celebrity status was also sprinkled with few allegations. He was said to have an extramarital affair with his former personal assistant Rebecca Loos in 2004. In the same year the Malaysian-born Australian model Sarah Marbeck claimed that she had slept with Beckham on two occasions. In September 2010, prostitute Irma Nici and several others said in the magazine In Touch that they had sex with David. David refuted every allegation and stepped up as the clean Family Man.

Orders and special awards

• Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II: 2003
• United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador (2005–present)
• “Britain’s Greatest Ambassador” – 100 Greatest Britons awards
• The Celebrity 100, number 15 – Forbes, 2007
• Number 1 on the list of the 40 most influential men under the age of 40 in the UK Arena, 2007
• Time 100: 2008
• Gold Blue Peter Badge winner, 2001
• Do Something Athlete Award, 2011
• A.C. Milan Hall of Fame

(Information credits: David Beckham Wikipedia page)

Get to know the real David Beckham

• He has two middle names Robert and Joseph.
• When he went to play for Real Madrid, since jersey #7 was taken, David chose #23 because it was Michael Jordan‘s number whom he highly admired.
• David Beckham made the Adidas Predator boots famous.
• In 2008, David Beckham made it to the English Football Hall of Fame.
• David popularised the pompadour hairstyle trend of the 2010’s
• He has close to 50 tattoos inspired by religion, family and football, mostly designed by Louis Malloy tattoo artist in Manchester. The most famous is the Gothic one at the back of his neck with an outline of a cross and wings placed above his sons name Romeo.
• Beckham has 52 million likes on Facebook, and 63 million followers on Instagram.
• Beckham suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), which according to his wife Victoria makes him “have everything in a straight line or everything has to be in pairs. If there’s three cans, he’ll throw one away because it has to be an even number.”
• David is still a sought after British model endorsing Adidas, Coty, H&M, Sainsbury’s, Samsung, and Breitling.
• David Beckham the UNICEF ambassador has created his own fund called ‘7’, to raise money to support its work.
• In 2020, David Beckham’s net worth is estimated at USD 450 Million.

The post Football Fans Get to Know the Real DAVID BECKHAM appeared first on Doer Life.

An Early Start

Roger Federer was born on August 8, 1981, in Basel, Switzerland. His parents, Robert and Lynette, both worked in the pharmaceutical industry. Watching tennis was a family passion in Federer home, but neither did Roger’s parents nor his sister Diana learned to play.  At the age of 4 years, it was Roger who began to show interest in tennis as he watched his idol Boris Becker win his first Wimbledon in 1985. He also played football in school but soon found that he was getting far better in tennis than football thus concentrating more on the game. By the age of 8, a promising young Roger earned entry into Basel’s crack junior program.

Teens and tennis

But like many kids his age, ‘hothead’ Roger was often got out of control on the court hurling his racket against the fence. When his parents Robert and Lynette saw their son’s self-anger behavior during tournaments they couldn’t understand. But it was Pete Carter his Australian coach from the age of 10 to 14, who saw his anger and slowly began to mould Roger into a tennis star. He taught him his groundstrokes and serves, and discussed the importance of being gracious and polite on the court. By the time he was 13 years, Roger had learned to channel his wasteful energy spent on anger to become Switzerland’s national junior tennis champion.

In 1994, at the age of 13, Roger left home to join Switzerland’s national training center in Ecublens, near Lausanne. He would be back on weekends to spend time with his family, but every Sunday night, when it was time to board the train Roger, would be depressed. More so, because everyone at the center spoke in French while Roger, spoke German. Roger Federer is now fluent in Swiss, German, French, and English.

In 1996, Roger joined the International Tennis Federation junior tennis circuit.

In 1997 when he left Ecublens and re-enrolled in a new training facility in Biel, he was reunited with coach Carter. In the same facility, he was also often guided by another coach Peter Lundgren, a former ranked ATP player from Sweden who had once coached Marcelo Rios. Roger began to rise in the world’s top junior ranking. In 1998, Federer won the junior Wimbledon title and the Orange Bowl and became the ITF World Junior Tennis champion of the year.

Many times the junior champion would imitate his idols, Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg. But it was only in 1998 after the being recognised as the ITF World Junior Tennis champion, that Roger Federer realized that he was good in his own game and turned pro.

A new dawn, a new century

The 2000 season brought Roger his first two ATP finals appearances and since then he never looked back.

In 2003, Roger ended his long relationship with IMG and instead had his parents look after his business dealings, appointing an attorney and media consultant for Team Federer.

Today Team Federer has come a long way. Roger Federer the champion himself has started a boutique agency in Ohio, with his American manager and agent Tony Godsick. The firm called Team8 has already secured its first client to manage, Juan Martín del Potro Lucas, the Argentine professional tennis player who is currently ranked world No. 128 in men’s singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).

Roger Federer Career Statistics

The historic achievements of Roger Federer ranked world No. 4 in men’s singles tennis by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) include:

• 103 ATP singles titles including a record 20 Grand Slam singles titles,
• 28 ATP Masters 1000 titles,
• 6 ATP Finals,
• 3 Hopman Cup titles (2001, 2018 and 2019),
• 3 consecutive Laver Cup titles (2017, 2018 and 2019),
• 2004-8, 2010, 2018: Laureus World Sportsman of the Year
• 2004, 2006, 2007, 2017: BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year
• 2008: Gold Medal in men’s doubles with Stan Wawrinka at the Beijing Olympics
• 2012: Silver Medal in men’s singles at the London Olympics.
• 2014: Davis Cup winner

(Information credits: Roger Federer Career Statistics)

Endorsements and Earnings

Roger Federer’s list of endorsements include Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo and Swiss brands Nationale Suisse, Credit Suisse, Rolex, Lindt, Sunrise, and Jura Elektroapparate. He also has a global partnership and endorsement deal with Mercedes-Benz. His other sponsors are Gillette, Wilson, Barilla, and Moët & Chandon. In May 2020, Federer became the first tennis player to reach the top of the Forbes “World’s Highest Paid Athletes” list with annual earnings, inclusive of prize money and sponsorships, reaching USD 93.4 million. Federer is soon to join the billionaire athletes club alongside Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Floyd Mayweather.

Philanthropy

Federer is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for HIV awareness.  In 2003, he established The Roger Federer Foundation. The foundation provides education and sports-related grants to poor countries that have a child mortality rate of more than 15%.

Roger Federer also supports the following charities:

• Elton John AIDS Foundation
• Humpty Dumpty Foundation
• Make-A-Wish Foundation
• Mines Advisory Group
• Roger Federer Foundation
• Small Steps Project

Famous family of Twins

In 2009, Federer married Mirka Vavrinec, also a professional tennis player. The couple has two sets of identical twins – twin daughters Myla Rose Federer, Charlene Riva Federer and twin sons Lenny Federer, Leo Federer. The family lives in Bottmingen, Switzerland.

Yet to conquer

Roger Federer’s power game on the court and courteousness off the court has turned him into a sports icon. The 38 years old Federer was planning to retire in 2020, but as of now, he has postponed his decision.

Get ready as Federer is out to conquer the hearts of millions of fans again in 2021.

The post Roger Federer, the unrivaled tennis star and 20 Grand Slam champion appeared first on Doer Life.