One of the great opportunities in working in global sport is that it brings together so many different cultures and traditions and puts all together in places from the playing field to the classroom. From curling to hockey, bobsled to basketball, there is a drive to succeed whether that is in a results-based competition or in the ROI of a business opportunity.
Through our work at Columbia we are lucky to come across many of the best and the brightest, and some who have excelled both off the field and on. One of those is Neha Aggarwal, a first year full-time student in our program. In addition to learning the in’s and outs of the business of sport, Neha was at Olympic Table tennis player for her native India, and has brought a unique perspective of how powerful sport can be in a country whose people are rapidly changing, innovating and adapting, and are learning how to expand smart business practices from around the world in their own expanding programs.
We caught up with Neha to talk Olympics, sports biz, and a bit of social activism.
Of all the sports in India, how did you get involved in table tennis?
Prior to starting table tennis, I was National Champion in Roller Speed Skating. However, my parents were not very convinced due to lack of professional training for roller skating in India and the future of the sport in the Olympic world. During this time, my elder brother won a state ranking table tennis tournament organized by my school and this is when my parents decided to put both of us into professional table tennis coaching. Ever since then, there was no turning back.
When did you realize you had a chance to play on such a high level?
Honestly, initially I did not enjoy playing table tennis as much as I enjoyed skating. But winning feels good, and in 2001, I won my first National Championship in the under 15 category in both singles and doubles. The same year I also represented India at the Taiyuan International Junior Open Table Tennis tournament in China and won a bronze medal in the team event in U-15. This experience brought more clarity to my goals in table tennis.
Many people think representing your country in the Olympics can be all glory but it was not that easy for you. What were some of the hardships/issues you had to deal with as the Games approached?
My transition from a Junior to a Senior player was very quick. In January 2008, I became the number 1 women’s table tennis player in India, entered the Senior National Team as the youngest member at 18-years old in February, and by March I had qualified for the Olympics. The biggest challenge was scheduling training because the Olympics were only 5 months away. I also had my 1st year undergrad final exams in April. Plus, I had to choose between training with the National Team in India or training abroad. I chose to train in India because that’s the only option the federation offered. My team and I were unsure of what was the best for me at that time. It was also challenging to deal with the constant media attention all of a sudden. Of course, it was also great exposure for me but after a point it was difficult to manage everything myself: training, media interactions and college work.
How difficult was it being the first female table tennis player from India. Did you have to deal with a lot of bias?
I am blessed to have a very supporting family who always encouraged me to play despite all odds. My entire team – coach, practice partners, psychologist, physical trainer and parents have been my biggest strength. It is a challenge to be a female athlete in India because the society is not yet open to it but the trend is changing and with a great team supporting me, it has been a great journey so far.
You were asked to do a TED Talk. How did that come about?
It was April 2011 when I got a call from the organizers of the event to give a TedX talk at NSIT, which is an engineering college in Delhi. I was in the middle of my final year undergraduate exams when I gave the talk. It was a great experience because I enjoyed speaking about the mindset of an athlete. However, the challenge was talking in front of a huge audience for 17 minutes! I almost froze before the talk but I am glad I pulled it off well. I am thankful for that opportunity.
How have you tried to craft your message since participating in The Games?
After the games, I have been encouraging young kids in India, especially girls, to take up sport and educate them about its benefits. I have been honoured to speak at various sports events across schools and universities in India as well as other community events. Recently, I started blogging on www.pingpongamigos.blogspot.com. This has provided me with another platform to write about my thoughts on various aspects of sports in general and table tennis in particular.
What was your biggest takeaway from the Olympic experience?
In retrospect, the whole experience still feels surreal to me. I can still picture entering the Birds Nest Stadium in a Sari, holding the Indian flag, and the crowd roaring in excitement. What resonated most with me was how my identity changed back home. It is something that every athlete around the world aspires to be, an Olympian. It was an extremely humbling experience and allowed me to look back on my journey and thank everyone who helped me along the way. It’s been 7 years and I still feel the pride attached to being an Olympian every single day and it’s amazing to know that it will be with me forever.
Sport finds ways to overcome social boundaries. How have you seen sport in India change lives, and how would you like to see that effort grow?
In India, sport has been a blessing for a lot of athletes. These days, many public sector undertaking companies like railways, postal, petroleum, banks, etc., hire athletes as regular employees to represent their brand nationally as well as to work for them as full time employees after they retire. This has brought financial security since players are able to find permanent jobs after retiring. However, this needs to be applied to more athletes across different sports. Also, India is such a diverse country in terms of culture and religion. It is great to see how all of us come together despite our unique backgrounds for national pride and glory. Society is being supportive towards women taking part in sport and it’s great for women because this has expanded their horizon.
You are again playing competitive table tennis. What life and business lessons does the game offer that people would not normally understand?
Sport develops one’s ability to take calculative risks and then take the responsibility if things don’t work in your favour. I think that is something one can use in the business world. Also, as an athlete you learn how to handle adversity. Whether it is winning in a major title or losing to a rookie, it is all about dealing the pressure. Moreover, sports give you the courage to dream big; however, as ridiculous as it may sound, if you don’t dream big, you won’t make it big. I believe that these characteristics are quite unique to every athlete.
You are now in the sports management program at Columbia. What do you hope to take back to India from the experience?
Being a student at Columbia has been a life changing experience for me. Each day in class is a unique learning experience and I see myself better inclined towards my long term goal of bringing a positive change in the Indian Sports system. I am developing a diverse skill set that I will be able to apply back home. Moreover, the network that I will build here will help me bring more value to my career as a sports business professional. I have always looked at things from an athlete’s perspective and now through this program I am gaining an insight into the sports business world.
