Beta, I see you all talking about fancy dry suits and imported helmets, but let me tell you — in my younger days we used to flip the old PVC raft with just a lungi and a prayer, and we survived. All that gear is fine, but what matters is the core strength, haan ji. My grandson brought me some "self-bailing" raft video — I said, show me the data on how many lives it saved over proper paddling technique! These river companies change equipment every season but the boy who cannot do ten pushups will still drown. Trust the old ways, but test them — I test every dumbbell in my verandah before a new boy touches it.

Arre, I tell you, yesterday one young TT player came to my gym — beta was hitting the ball well but his backhand was weak. I asked him who his coach is, he said some big academy in Ahmedabad charges fifty thousand per month. I said, show me the data: how many of their students actually made it to the national camp? For me, the real test is: does the boy who can't afford the fancy fees still get a chance