Kim Clijsters

The mother has demonstrated once again that motherhood in no way can reduce the intensity to perform, as Kim Clijsters won the Women’s Singles Finals for the third year beating Russian Vera Zvonarava. However this victory for Kim Clijsters was a cake walk as the Russian teenager surrendered meekly. In fact, it was the shortest final match at the Flushing Meadows in the Arthur Ash Stadium in New York, and the fans where left wondering whether the draw of pools should be relooked into as the real challengers Williams sisters were out by the semi-finals stage. A final in US Open is a treat for the fans and it has happened for the first time that the spectators were left fuming at the manner in which the game winded up.

It does not mean that Clijsters performance is not in any way being undermined, her effort is now becoming a part of folklore and one would not be surprised if her success would become a case study in the management schools across US to be cited as a successful example for the mothers to return to their careers before the motherhood in a big way. Kim as an example may not conform to the stereo type as in sports on does not face any glass ceiling; it is the talent and the performance on the day that matters. Besides, one also gets wild card entries, and wild card entries are not allowed in the normal office jobs. As a matter of fact a lady has to start from the scratch once again.

Kim Clijsters even then would be a role model, at least in the arena of sports as was Florence Joyner Kersey, at one point of time when she was the queen of athletics, and she also had a dream run in her career even after marriage. One only wonders whether we could have role models of these kinds from Indian sports. So far the scenario is not encouraging, but who knows, may be a Sania Mirza could follow on the path of Kim Clijsters and become a new role model.  We have to keep the fingers crossed.

By: Suman Rai

Tags: Arthur Ash Stadium, Flushing Meadows, Grand Slam, Kim Clijsters, New York, Sports, Tennis, US Open, Vera Zvonarava