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23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Olympic Speed Climbing Champion Sam Watson to Visit Mumbai

Mumbai: When Sam Watson sprints up a 15-metre wall, the world seems to slow down. The 19-year-old American speed climber, an Olympic medallist from Paris 2024 and current world-record holder at 4.64 seconds, has become the face of one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. On November 2, he will trade competition arenas for Mumbai’s High Rock in Powai, offering a rare day of workshops and conversations with India’s burgeoning community of climbers. Speed climbing, once a fringe pursuit of...

Olympic Speed Climbing Champion Sam Watson to Visit Mumbai

Mumbai: When Sam Watson sprints up a 15-metre wall, the world seems to slow down. The 19-year-old American speed climber, an Olympic medallist from Paris 2024 and current world-record holder at 4.64 seconds, has become the face of one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. On November 2, he will trade competition arenas for Mumbai’s High Rock in Powai, offering a rare day of workshops and conversations with India’s burgeoning community of climbers. Speed climbing, once a fringe pursuit of mountaineers, now stands as one of the Olympics’ most electrifying disciplines. The sport demands not just power and agility but precision measured in hundredths of a second. Watson, often hailed as the greatest speed climber of all time, has repeatedly rewritten the record books. His visit marks a milestone for India’s fledgling climbing scene. High Rock, the city’s first commercial climbing facility, opened its walls in December 2024 and has since drawn more than 10,000 enthusiasts. It represents the country’s growing fascination with vertical sports and a reflection of a global shift toward adventure and athleticism fused with technology and training science. During his visit, Sam Watson will conduct Masterclasses for both Kids and Adults, offering a rare opportunity for amateur climbers to learn directly from a global champion and experience his unmatched energy and technique up close. Watson will be joined by Matt Groom, the Official Lead Commentator for the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC). Known as the voice of IFSC World Cups and World Championships, Groom will host a 30-minute talk at High Rock on ‘The Evolution of Climbing in Competitive Sport.’ His insights promise to provide a deep look into the transformation of climbing from niche adventure to Olympic spectacle. Event: Sam Watson, Olympic Medalist and current World Record holder at High Rock Date: November 2, 2025 Location: High Rock, Powai, Mumbai

The Absurdity of “Test Twenty”: Cricket’s Latest Monster

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Oh, joy! Just when we thought cricket couldn’t get any more “innovative,” the powers-that-be have gifted us “Test Twenty.” Because nothing says “preserving the sanctity of the game” like smashing the five-day epic of Test cricket into a hyper-caffeinated, 20-over sprint. It’s like taking Shakespeare’s Hamlet and condensing it into a TikTok video: “To be or not to be? LOL, bye!” If you’re not already rolling your eyes, allow me to sarcastically applaud the ICC or whichever marketing genius dreamed this up. Bravo! You’ve solved the non-problem of Test cricket being “too boring” by turning it into a circus act.


For the uninitiated—bless your souls if you’ve managed to avoid this abomination—“Test Twenty” is the shiny new format announced in early 2025, blending the strategic depth of Test matches with the fireworks of T20. Matches are capped at 20 overs per side per day, but with Test-like rules: unlimited bouncers, no powerplays, and the pink ball under lights to “enhance viewer engagement.” It’s supposed to be a “bridge” between formats, attracting younger fans while keeping purists happy. Spoiler: It does neither. Instead, it’s a pitfall-riddled mess that exposes cricket’s desperate chase for relevance in a world of instant gratification.


Let’s start with the sarcasm-dripping pitfalls, shall we? First off, the pacing. Traditional Test cricket is a slow burn, a chess match where patience wins wars. In Test Twenty, it’s like forcing grandmasters to play speed chess while juggling flaming bats. Bowlers, those poor souls, get hammered in the first few overs as batters swing for the fences, knowing there’s no tomorrow—literally, since the game’s over before tea. Imagine Jasprit Bumrah, the king of yorkers, reduced to a sideshow act, slinging down 20 overs of “strategic aggression” only to watch sixes rain like confetti at a bad wedding. And the fielding? Forget cat-like reflexes; players will need to evolve into octopuses to cover the boundaries in this condensed chaos.


Humor me for a moment: Picture a “Test” declaration in the 15th over because your star batter got a cramp from all the frantic running. Or worse, rain delays—already the bane of cricket—turning a one-day affair into a multi-day farce. “Sorry, folks, Day 2 is postponed because the outfield’s a swamp. Tune in tomorrow for the thrilling conclusion of our 40-over epic!” The irony is delicious: They’ve shortened the game to combat boredom, but added layers of unpredictability that could drag it out longer than a standard ODI. And don’t get me started on player welfare. Test cricket builds endurance; T20 demands explosiveness. Mash them together, and you’ve got athletes ping-ponging between formats like overworked pinballs, risking burnout faster than a microwave popcorn bag left unattended.


Then there’s the commercial elephant in the room—or should I say, the sponsor-logo-plastered pachyderm? Test Twenty screams “monetization opportunity.” Shorter games mean more ads, more franchise tie-ins, and more excuses to slap energy drink logos on everything from helmets to the pitch. It’s hilarious how administrators pat themselves on the back for “growing the game” while conveniently ignoring that this format is just another cash grab. Remember The Hundred? That was supposed to revolutionize cricket too, but it mostly confused everyone with its quirky scoring and ended up as a footnote. Test Twenty feels like that, but with a pretentious “Test” label slapped on to fool traditionalists. Pitfall numero uno: It dilutes the brand. What even is a “Test” anymore if it’s over before you’ve finished your first beer?


And oh, the humanity—traditional Test cricket is about to take a long, painful hit. This new darling will suck up scheduling slots like a black hole devours stars. International calendars are already bloated with T20 leagues; now, boards will prioritize Test Twenty’s quick-turnaround profitability over the grueling five-dayers. Why host a Test series that might draw modest crowds when you can pack stadiums for a fireworks-fest that wraps up in hours? Purists will wail as iconic venues like Lord’s or the MCG host fewer real Tests, relegated to “heritage” events like dusty museum exhibits. Young players, lured by the glamour and paychecks, will skip honing their red-ball skills, leading to a generation of sloggers who crumble under pressure in actual endurance battles. It’s comedic in a tragic way: We’re trading timeless rivalries like the Ashes for forgettable slugfests that no one will reminisce about in 50 years.


In conclusion, Test Twenty isn’t innovation; it’s a sarcastic punchline to cricket’s identity crisis. It’s like putting pineapple on pizza—sure, some might love it, but it ruins the original for everyone else. If we let this monster thrive, traditional Test cricket won’t just take a hit; it’ll be knocked out cold, leaving us with a game that’s all flash and no substance. Let’s hope the fans revolt before it’s too late. Otherwise, farewell to the art of the draw; hello to the era of instant regrets.


(The writer is a senior journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal.)

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