Belief will be key to Satnam’s success

Like most Indians, I woke up to the news of Satnam Singh Bhamara breaking that fictitious glass ceiling. By being the first Indian to be drafted by an NBA side (Dallas Mavericks), he has underscored his talent and determination. Now, he has to overcome the challenges ahead.

A pioneer in any field may get laurels, but the challenges they face, being the first to do things, are almost left unseen. This is uncharted territory, and the task ahead is enormous. Drawing parallels from my personal experience, I went to Europe at the age of 16; I missed home, the food, familiar faces and everything that made me comfortable. I think that would be the biggest challenge Satnam would face there, with being brought up in a close-knit family, home sickness could be daunting. Thankfully for him, the world has come a long way from 1993. Skype, Whatsapp and all those apps bring people closer.

Also, with Indians doing well in almost every place on Earth, finding a good restaurant for that familiar ‘dal-chawal’ isn’t that tough anymore. Of course, nothing can replace home food; but looking at the larger picture, these are just minor difficulties that have to be overcome. Once again recalling my early days on the European circuit; two things that got me as far as I did — determination to make it to the top echelon of the sport and the unwavering self-belief that I am as fast as any other driver out there.

BREAKTHROUGH

Satnam, just by making it to where he is now, has shown he has the talent and will to achieve the unachieved. That at the age of 19 he has surpassed the barriers one is supposedly limited by, coming from a humble background, shows the determination he has.

I am also confident that the team (Mavericks) will do its best to help him adapt. Sport, no matter which discipline, has become far more professional. I am sure there would be people to look after him, help him through the early days. Hurdles like cultural differences… ethnicity are not as intimidating as it used to be.

If one has absolute belief in his/her capabilities and talent, everything else becomes a bit easier. Satnam has age on his side and if he is able to keep himself motivated and work on upping his physical and mental fitness to elite levels, there are definitely good times ahead of him.