NITN | @notintownlive | 16 Apr 2018, 11:40 am
Sports rivalries may not always be confined to playing fields finds out Jayesh Sinha while researching for his book on the subject
First of all, Congratulations on the release of 'Greatest Sports Rivalries'? How does it feel to be an author?
It feels good. Never thought I would write a book and having written one and gotten it published does feel good.
Your book deals with the stories of legendary rivalries of the greatest sports legends that ever were. What made you come up with the subject?
I have always been interested in sports and I have followed a lot of sports, not just one or two. Sports was something right up my alley. I was watching the Australian Open Final in 2017 between Federer and Nadal when I thought what are the other great rivalries in sports. For instance what is the greatest rivalry in Basketball or Chess or Rugby? How did those rivalries come to be. I started reading up on it and felt the story of these rivalries needs to be told.
How much research went into making this book?
A lot. I had to read up extensively on rivalries from each global sport, their history the great games that they played, etc. However as a sports fans reading those stories and learning new things was an absolute pleasure. I got to learn a lot of new things. For instance Cricket is a sport I think I know as well anyone, but I was shocked to learn that the Ashes is not the oldest running Cricket series in the World. That honor belongs to the Auty Cup, which is a series played between the USA and Canada!! It was first held in 1844, nearly four decades before the Ashes and is still held to this date. The previous edition which was held in Toronto in 2017 was won by the USA.
This was astonishing to learn and I got to learn plenty of new things about other sports as well.
Which are the rivalries that have most intrigued you?
I think each of the rivalries covered in the book are very intriguing, but personally I would say the el Classico is a story of two great football teams and the origins of that rivalry is just so deeply tied in with the story of Spain, the regional differences, the politics, etc.it really stands out.
Are you writing anything next?
Not yet. I have been thinking about a few topics, wll try and get down to writing something soon hopefully.
- Ind.AI: Sovereignty, jobs, energy and the “What If?”
- Diabetes, muscle loss and the illusion of quick fixes: Why lifestyle correction—not shortcuts—remains our strongest medicine
- Kolkata: Rotary honours Padmashri 2026 awardee Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya
- Kolkata: Rotary Club of Calcutta Pointers, Indian Cancer Society host cancer awareness, screening camp
- ‘This Union budget is about building capacity, not chasing short-term consumption’
- AI will replace surgeons, coders — and billions of jobs, warns Sraddhalu Ranade at MCHD-SKC Memorial Lecture
- Religion without servility: Journalist Anshul Chaturvedi on why Vivekananda speaks to believers and atheists alike
- Culturist Sundeep Bhutoria unveils anthology When Gods Don't Matter at Jaipur LitFest 2026
- Kolkata CP urges elderly to stay alert against digital scams at ‘Pronam’ interaction
- Sona Incubations, Salem picks 17 startups for Rs 11 Mn DST investment, grant
Air India and Air India Express will present their upgraded cabin products and refreshed on board experiences at SATTE 2026, taking place from 25 February to 27 February 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, offering trade partners and visitors a first-hand look at the airlines’ transformation journey.
Montreal: Air Canada and Pegasus Airlines on Thursday announced a new interline partnership aimed at expanding travel options between Canada and Türkiye.
Montreal: Air Canada will expand its Mexico network this summer, increasing seat capacity by 18% compared with last year and launching a new year-round route between Montréal and Guadalajara.
