Sometimes you’re the Louisville slugger, sometimes you’re the ball.
Sometimes it all comes together baby, sometimes you’re going to lose it all.
Those telling lines from The Bug, a Dire Straits smash hit, encapsulate the on-field highs and lows of sportspersons aptly. However, what happened to Australian cricketer Philip Hughes was definitely unfortunate, cruel to the extreme. A life snatched abruptly while the young man was at play, but the dogged batsman’s last innings drives home a poignant point — the bowlers could not get his wicket. Hughes’ score will read 63 not out, forever.
Just as in life, there are uncertainties in sport. Despite the dollops of joy it dishes to fans across the world, it does throw up the occasional awful episode that casts a thick blanket of gloom. Every sportsperson, in a combat or non-combat discipline, has this ‘play hard’ mantra built-in and once in the arena, is only looking to pushing himself/ herself to the limits. It’s natural that he/ she goes in for the kill at the first available opportunity. It’s only when that four-letter figurative word used to describe a finish to the game turns literal and results in bodily harm that the game loses its charm.
There have been several tragedies on the sporting field, under varying circumstances — some have succumbed to the savage nature of the competition, some because they carried inherent anomalies that spurted suddenly to silence them while others have died during a celebration! Memories of three-time Formula One champion Ayrton Senna’s death in a high-speed crash on the Imola race track in 1994 come flooding to mind. Senna, like Hughes, was young with so much life ahead of him. He had left the world in tears.
Mizoram football player Peter Biaksangzuala is at the other end of the scale. The 23-year-old lost his life after landing on his head that severely damaged his spinal cord while attempting a celebratory somersault after scoring for his club Bethlehem Vengthlang last month.
Cameroon footballer Marc-Vivien Foe falls into the category of innocents who have no idea of their precarious medical condition. Marshalling his side’s midfield during the 2003 Fifa Confederations Cup semifinal against Colombia, 28-year-old Foe simply fell to the ground and lay motionless. Autopsy reports revealed his death was due to a heart-related hereditary condition known to increase the risk of sudden death during physical exercise.
Amidst such tragedy is a miracle called Fabrice Muamba, the English footballer who suffered a cardiac arrest from which he recovered despite his heart having stopped for 78 minutes! This was during an FA Cup game in 2012. However, following medical advice, he announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 24. But dear life goes on for Muamba, who would term his separation from football as all in the game.
Ayrton Senna
The three-time Formula One racing champion driver died in an accident while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. The 34-year-old Brazilian is considered one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport.
Cristiano Junior
The Brazilian footballer who played for Dempo Sports Club, collided with rival goalkeeper Subrata Pal of Mohun Bagan during the 2004 Federation Cup final in Bengaluru. Attempts to revive the 25-year-old failed. Autopsy revealed he died of a heart stroke.
Fabrice Muamba
The English footballer suffered a cardiac arrest during a 2012 FA Cup match between Bolton and Tottenham Hotspur, from which he recovered despite his heart having stopped for 78 minutes. Following medical advice, he announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 24.
Wasim Raja
The former Pakistan Test cricketer died while playing a one-day English county game for Surrey against Bucking-hamshire. Wasim, brother of current commentator Ramiz Raja, suffered a heart attack on the ground in 2003. He was 54.
Marc-Vivien Foe
The Cameroon footballer collapsed during the 2003 Fifa Confederations Cup semifinal against Colombia. Attempts to resuscitate the 28-year-old proved futile. Autopsy concluded that Foe’s death was heart-related as it discovered proof of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a hereditary condition known to increase the risk of sudden death during physical exercise.
Peter Biaksan-gzuala
The 23-year-old died after landing on his head while attempting a celebratory somersault after scoring for Mizoram club Bethlehem Vengthlang FC against Chanmari West FC in a football league match. A CT scan revealed he had damaged his spinal cord. He died after being on a ventilator for five days.
Phindile Mwelase
The South African woman boxer died last month after being knocked out in a fight against Liz Butler. The 31-year-old was in a coma for two weeks before she passed away.
