Five life lessons from sports to shape your future

Sports is the core of community building, where a nation comes together to rally behind talents in their pursuit of glory. Sri Lanka is a sport-obsessed nation, and quite rightly so. Sri Lankans are making history in the frontier of sports whether it be a world-beating national cricket team or medal-winning athletic performances in the international arena to numerous individual performances in sports from weightlifting to boxing to rifle shooting in the past.

Despite the challenges faced as a middle-income country, with the lack of sustainable investment and suitable infrastructure to equip young Sri Lankan sportsmen and women with the right skills and techniques, the country has continued to thrive on the international sporting stage. This has been achieved in no small part with the many private entities that step in through sponsorships, donations and knowledge building to support building a sporting ecosystem for the future. The funding they provide has meant that the sporting men & women of the country get the opportunities to compete and showcase their skills and natural talent and also gives an opportunity for the sports-loving public to see their heroes in action.

For example, a private entity such as NDB bank has made noteworthy contributions to encouraging national cricket in the past through association with different bilateral series played in Sri Lanka. This has given local audiences the chance to enjoy live international cricket. In addition, talented cricketers such as current Sri Lanka Test Captain Dimuth Karunaratne and exciting young player Charith Asalanka are identified early and offered opportunities as brand ambassadors to encourage and empower more young people to enter the sport.

NDB Bank has also been a long-time supporter of school rugby, by being one of the main sponsors of events such as the Bradby Shield. Considered the marquee event in the school's rugby calendar the event has a wide-reaching following as it is played between two leading schools from the western province(Colombo) and central province (Kandy). Many young ruggerites have taken up the game and even gone on to represent the country after initially generating their interest by watching ‘Bradby’.

Sri Lankan sporting culture is unique and peppered with many anecdotes of success and failure due to the very nature of the sport which can affect the development of an athlete. Here are 5 life lessons from sports that can inspire young sporting talents to greatness in their chosen field and even help create a more inclusive and stronger community for all.

Lesson 1: The Sport above all

Always make sure that you perform at your best, and always in an ethical and honest manner. The integrity of a sportsman should never be in question. It is important to preserve justice and fair play in the sporting sphere. Never compromise your morals.

Lesson 2: You won't always win, and that is fine too.

Athletic endeavours, whether they include practice or competing, are made up of both successful and unsuccessful moments. Whatever game you're playing, it's crucial to accept victory with humility and endure failure with honour. Your ‘defeat’ is just a precursor for greater success, it gives you an opportunity to take a step back, reflect and fix your mistakes.

Lesson 3. Show integrity, be respectful

Be it on the field, or off-field be courteous and respectful towards your teammates and fellow contestants. We are exposed to a diversity of people from diverse backgrounds, races and cultures. Be conscious and conduct yourself with dignity, and if you notice injustice directed at your teammates or fellow contestants do not be afraid to speak up. The honour of a sportsperson is long-lasting, while the glory from a spuriously acquired victory is temporary.

Lesson 4. Fight your demons

Your capacity to perform better is not always limited to what your stakeholders say. It is also not determined by the facilities or the funds that are given or denied to your sporting endeavours. Your performance is determined by the calculated risks that you take, and by pushing beyond the imaginative barriers that you set for yourself.

Lesson 5. Never take your eyes off the ball

Always keep your goal in focus, and don't let the challenges that are thrown your way direct you away from your goal. To assume that we live in an honest and equal world is naive, and sometimes the challenges that we face may impact our personal lives and beliefs. Do your research, and equip yourself to face both predictable and unpredictable tests, threats, oppositions and objections. Goal-oriented sportsmen and women before you paved the way for you to come this far, so clear the path to empower those after you to follow in your footsteps to victory.

NDB Bank continues its association with various sporting institutions such as the MCA and CR&FC in addition to supporting major school-level sporting events such as Royal-Trinity Bradby Shield to encourage and empower future generations with the qualities of sportsmanship such as teamwork, fair play and passion, and to inculcate the same within the community. Because through Sports, we all are winners!