Writer: Brigadier Ghulam Jilani, retired

Dominance is a characteristic of highly social animals such as humans, in which individuals of the same species compete intensely with one another for food, mates, territory or any other resource, including money. Sports is a benign way to allow this competitive spirit, for individuals to satiate their desire to dominate, within the confines of ethics and civilised behaviour. Sports arenas provide an opportunity to make a positive effort to dominate each other, still providing space to the adversary, to assay and get ready to compete again, after organised hard work and perseverance.

Sport is derived from the Latin word portare which means to amuse or entertain oneself. Physical activity has been shown to stimulate brain chemicals called neurotransmitters that make you feel better. The advantages accrued by playing sports go far in learning new physical accomplishments. Sports help develop better ways to cope with the crests and troughs of life, and negative feelings can be regulated and channelised for good results. To win and lose is an essential part; it adds maturity and sportsman spirit after you lose. Losing in a game allows an individual or team to overcome disappointment and plan for the next day in a better fashion, manage unkind experiences and makes one more robust. Sports plays an extremely important role in the makeup of a thriving society, it regulates innate energy of individuals and society and moves them in a positive direction.

Sports Through the Lens of History

Sports in different versions and formats, according to cultural values of different societies, has been played for centuries. Ancient civilisations like the Egyptians, Greeks and Mayans all had a sport they enjoyed taking part in. They were created to bring people together, and help them settle disputes or conflicts in an organised manner.

In the first century BCE when Rome came to dominate the western Mediterranean, it was an intensely competitive state that had glorified its military and traditions. The backbone of Roman power was its army, honed and conditioned to fiercely demanding standards. Soldiers were expected to be able to march more than twenty-five miles in five hours, hauling at least fifty pounds of equipment with them at the same time. Gladiatorial games were thus part of the military training and public entertainment. The first gladiatorial games recorded in Rome took place in 264 BCE when the sons of Decimus Junius Brutus organised an event for their recently deceased father. Whereas the first known Olympics were held in the summer of 776 BCE at Olympia, a site in southern Greece where people went to worship their gods.

Sports in India date back as far as 8000 years, deriving from the Bronze Age. Records suggest, the birth of sports in India came during the Indus Valley Civilisation, 3300 1300 BCE. Indus Valley, or ancient Pakistan, was one of the developed civilisations of its time. It had a complex sewage and drainage system, buildings for domestic and non-residential use, along with essential water supply networks. There seems no reason why sports should not have been part of the cultural activities of an advanced and developed society. A mantra in the Atharvaveda (an ancient scripture or 4th Veda) sums up the importance of sports: “duty is in my right hand and the fruits of victory in my left”. Romans and the Persian Empire dominated the ancient world but the British who later dominated the colonial world approached sporting encounters driven by amateurism, the spirit of fair play and the principles of muscular Christianity. Most of the modern sports like cricket, tennis, badminton, squash and hockey were introduced in the Sub continent by the British East India Company. Cricket was thought to embody certain 'English virtues' such as strength, persistence, courage, leadership, camaraderie and sportsmanship. Favourite sports of the local population of the Sub-continent, which now have international recognition, were polo, wrestling and kabaddi.

Do Sports have an Interrelation with Soldiering?

People with some knowledge of sports culture in ancient Greece know that soldiers did participate in sports, and felt it was good training for the sort of skills one needed for war. Anthropologists believe that sports may have descended from tribal war games.

Sports of all kinds, be they modern or ancient, are intensely competitive in nature, and require immense physical activity. Thus, the language, expressions, rules and cultural aspects of many sports are influenced by the adversarial structures of warfare. The difference remains that those are regulated encounters that promote mutual understanding and tolerance. Sports thus became not only a way of preparing young male bodies and minds for combat, but a form of cultural defence in the assertion of a particular national identity.

To further understand the relationship between war and sports, it is essential to mention English novelist, essayist, journalist and critic George Orwell’s famous dictum that sport is war minus the shooting. For Orwell, even the Olympics should be considered nothing less than mimic warfare.

Throughout history, sports and militarism have been inseparable. It is for this reason that protagonists of both sports and battlefields have many similarities. They are both regarded as signs of national excellence, adroitness and quality. Soldiers and sportsmen are critical to demonstrate the will of the state, which is essential to ultimate success in the sports and on the battlefield. The sportsground and battlefield are connected to each other as sites to validate rightful nationalistic expression and will.

A table of sports for Olympics and Asian Games, reveals that most sports like archery, fencing, wrestling, athletic events like javelin and hammer throw—and the list continues to read on—were once battlefield activities. Modern day sports are essentially duels of ancient times and almost every sport, has an inbuilt mechanism of attack and defence. Players are dedicated for attack and defence, with their skills and training much like soldiers. Team sports are symbolically connected to warfare, many involve some notion of territory that is contested and either won or lost. Most also provide a venue for pageantry, group colours and emblems that resemble tribal warfare.

In a team sport, for example football, there are five attacking principles which are penetration, support/depth, mobility, width and creativity/improvisation. An offensive plan of any formation or unit is generally evolved on these five principles. Similarly, five defensive principles in a team sport are delay, depth, balance, concentration and composure/ discipline/patience. Deploy a formation or unit for defence and elaborate these principles, the results will be the same. There will hardly be any difference in attack and defence doctrine in sports and on the battlefield.

Homogeneity in Characteristics and Ethos of a Soldier and a Sportsman

Both for soldiers and civilians, warfare lifts life to a higher plane of power. It enables the expression of higher human qualities which often lie dormant in ordinary life, such as discipline, courage and self-sacrifice. Warfare creates a powerful sense of community in the face of a collective threat. It binds people together and creates a sense of cohesion with mutual goals. The war effort inspires individual citizens (not just soldiers) to behave honourably and unselfishly, in the service of a greater good. Is it only warfare that creates a sense of community in the face of a collective threat? In big encounters of sports, the whole community or nation unites to support its team against rivals. It is therefore interesting to determine parallels in ethos, characteristics and capabilities that a soldier and sportsman exhibit in their respective fields. There exists a commonality of attributes and expression of character in both sports-ground and on the battlefield. A few facets are dilated upon in subsequent paragraphs.

• Discipline Human beings have a general affinity and instinct towards self-preservation, and therefore generally show traits of greed, selfishness, envy, pride and self-gratification etc, without any rules or boundaries. Discipline enables a person to think beyond his or herself, and more for the society or team, considering the common good, and how his or her behaviour can affect the progress of the team in the long term, without distraction. According to Johnny Lewis, be hundred percent disciplined and you have a good chance of success.

Every sport is played within the precincts of strict rules, thus has either limitation of time or points which are strictly followed. Referees and umpires control the game and one whistle can bring everyone to a complete halt, and a wave of a hand or whistle starts it again. Sports inculcates essential elements of discipline in human beings, and will do the same for soldiers.

Discipline is an attribute which is at the core of military training and ethos of a soldier and officer. Discipline is an essential tool to make an ethical judgment both during peace and war. A soldier should be a manifestation of discipline and rules. Sports help in achieving this quality.

• Character and Integrity Honesty and adherence to rules is the foundation of every game. Players can develop into some of the strongest members of their team when they realise there are no short cuts. Sports foster character and integrity in sportsmen. A sportsman has to be honest; cheaters and liars are punished to set an example. Three Pakistani cricketers were disgraced and banned from playing cricket for selling their conscience a few years ago, whereas Majid Khan is still revered for his graceful conduct and honesty in the annals of cricketing history. An honest and truthful player is respected, and others are compelled to respect rules through stringent measures. Rules of the game are strictly applied, irrespective of the game, and that is why the adage rules of the game is used as a common phrase. There stays a deep connection among character, sports and military leadership.

Through character, leaders are able to build trust with their subordinates, an essential component to mission command, especially in large-scale combat operations. Character for a military leader is all or nothing. A military leader’s ethical foundation, which needs to be nurtured with the seeds of integrity and character, should permeate the decision-making process; the criteria of which should never be personal comfort, money, time and manpower but ethical behaviour alone. Thus, character has a profound connection with both a military leader and a sportsman.

• Initiative Initiative necessarily means taking action in the absence of orders, a quality, which if cultivated properly, can bring out the best of results in a leader. A good sportsman has an intrinsic aptitude to take the initiative. A hockey forward, through exquisite dribbling skills, takes the ball right next to the goal mouth, but it is his ingenuity at that moment, whether to pass it to somebody better placed to score, or take a shot himself, which ultimately would decide the outcome of the game. In racket games, whether to play a shot or lob the ball, does not require prompting of a coach, but creative nature of the player. In cricket a cover drive to an out-swinging ball can fetch a boundary or a catch in the slips, hence a batsman’s own choice at the spur of the moment. A player with superior ability to decide on his instinct, determines his level of proficiency in that particular sport. Proficiency of any sportsman is based on his ability to take this initiative with a positive outcome. Ronaldo, Ponting and Samiullah etc, achieved best results for their ability to make prompt choices at the right time. A good soldier exactly in a similar fashion, based on his intuition, decides to take the best action. Khalid Bin Al Waleed’s decision in the Battle of Uhud to launch a counter attack when the archers vacated their location, was an initiative based on his intuition; he was never ordered to do it.

Sports can thus be instrumental to stimulate in soldiers, selfless approach and the ability to take the initiative.

• Teamwork Together Everyone Achieves Mission (TEAM). Teamwork consequently is the basis of a team’s efforts in any team game. Personal gains are sacrificed for the better results of the group; this is a first precept in all team sports. Sportsmen learn quickly that their best chance to achieve success will be through cooperation with teammates. In team games every member has his own expertise and thus everyone is dependent on each other, like parts of a well-oiled machine. Best results for any team are achieved only when every team member has an equal level of competence, just like drill movements in the passing out parade of Pakistan Military Academy. Essentially, all activities in a military unit, whether in peace or war, are interconnected, akin to the tasks of each member of a crew in gun drill, therefore team work in the army also is the guiding principle to achieve results. Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships, says Michael Jordan, a star basketball player.
• Surprise and Deception T hroughout history, belligerents were able to achieve surprise on the battlefield by introducing new tactics, adopting bold strategies, employing deception and developing exceptional troop discipline. There are many examples from military history wherein the enemy was surprised and deceived, to be defeated. Similarly in all types of competitive sports, when two players or teams are contesting each other for victory, stratagem is an essential part to achieve victory. From dribbling, to who will strike the ball for a score or point, all parameters of deception are employed in team and individual sports to counter the opponent.

Surprise and deception from inception to planning and execution is an intrinsic part of the scheme of things both in sports as well as on the battlefield. This makes them identical twins to perform a particular job in two different domains.

• Leadership Whether deliberately or not, every leader sets an example. The led must know what the leader is all about; like the reaction of a horse which at once becomes aware that his rider is confident and experienced. He must essentially be better in knowledge and expertise than his subordinates.

There are three constant factors that determine better chances of victory in any battle, the moral law (obedience), the commander (the captain), method and discipline (the general disposition and organisation). Now apply these to the team situation of a sport, and consider the following:

• Moral law is essential to achieve the respect of your subordinates or teammates, and to win their trust.
• A team captain like a commander on the battlefield, should display the ability to take his game a few notches above his team mates.
• Method and discipline clearly define roles of each member of the team and his responsibilities, exactly like in battlefield conditions, wherein every single individual knows his duties, like drill.

Only the best players who have earned the confidence of their colleagues through better expertise and qualities can lead the team. In the recently concluded FIFA World Cup, Messi as captain of Argentina took full responsibility and withstood all pressure situations through his good performance, drove the team to the f inals and won the crown for his country. A captain of the team is expected to exhibit his best in a situation of crisis. It is the same for the military; subordinates always look towards their leader to give the best solution in a critical situation. No man is a leader until his position is ratified in the minds and hearts of his men. This is true for every military leader and is quoted in the US Army’s Infantryman’s Journal (1954).

• Self-Sacrifice and Compassion In the Battle of Tabuk, three wounded companions of the Prophet ﷺ embraced shahadat, pointing a water carrier to their wounded colleagues first, all succumbing to their wounds without a sip of water, and set a great example of self-sacrifice for each other. Self-sacrifice is expected from every soldier, while in the line of duty, to accomplish a task. Those who eschew sacrifice and selflessness cannot set a personal example. Being self-centred is considered very negative in the army. Now apply the same in sports, wherein players like Messi, Ronaldo and Shahbaz, would not have touched the heights of expertise, if they were self-centred. In all team sports, a selfish player for self-aggrandizement can let the team down and thus is considered a pariah.
• Team Spirit and Esprit de Corps The British Indian Army fostered and favoured the concept of regimentation to build loyalty towards each other, a feeling of pride and mutual loyalty shown and shared by members of a unit. This feeling of oneness among officers and men as a well gelled team, has served the Pakistan Army well.

The structure of the team in sports is naturally built with oneness; team spirit is a natural process that develops as people play with one another. The shared experience of playing and watching sport was crucial in developing esprit de corps—feelings of pride and confidence among the members of a regiment. Playing sports and a common desire to win nurtures team spirit, which then prevails over individualism, and personal differences are overcome.

It is very hard for every team member to have the honour of hitting the winning runs, or kicking the goal that wins the match. What defines a team player is the willingness to accept a degree of personal loss, in order to make a gain for the team.

• Time Management and Patience In any operational task, time and space is an essential factor to reach a workable plan. In this context, time and space are calculated minutely. Similarly, most sports are time bound activities with certain restrictions. A sportsman, like a good leader of men, plans every time bound activity on merit, to achieve the best results. Sports, therefore helps in development of social skills, time management, patience, respect for others, fair play and moderate the urge to always win.
• Perseverance Sports teaches a soldier not to flee from the face of adversity when it strikes. To have the tenacity and determination to accomplish something despite the level of difficulty, fight through it in difficult terrain and weather conditions to achieve objectives. There will be impediments and obstacles, but success can be achieved by navigating those obstacles through skill and perseverance. “My suggestions are to smile when the headwind makes us work harder, laugh when we fall down bleeding, and never let anyone else control our emotions.” -Tim Host, ATC Cross Country.

Sports in the British Indian Army— Pakistan Army Made the Best of it

Modern sports were introduced to India by the British, and the Indian Army in British India played a leading role in sport—the Army Sports Control Board (ASCB) was set up in March 1919 on the lines of the British body with the same name.

• In 1721, British soldiers docked and decided to play cricket. They started playing with the locals on the seaboard of India, near Cambay. The late 19th century saw the rise of modern polo, Assam became home to the first polo club in India in 1834.
• The officers stationed in the city of Poona started playing Badminton in 1860s.
• In 1889, the first football club was formed in Calcutta.
• The introduction of tennis came in the 1880s.
• In 1885, the first hockey club was established in Calcutta. In 1928, the Indian hockey team won its first gold medal at the Amsterdam Summer Olympics after defeating Netherlands 3-0 in the final.

Pakistan Army continued the legacy of the British Indian Army by treating sports as a training activity and created a sports section under Infantry Directorate in GHQ, called Army Sports Control Committee. It was designated as Army Sports Directorate in 1986.

Pakistan Army held the banner of leading Pakistan in sports, no sooner the country gained independence. Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Muhammad Malik, Colonel A.I.S Dara and Abdul Hamid (Hamidi who later retired as brigadier), formed part of the Pakistani contingent in 1948 Olympics, immediately after independence. Hamidi as team captain, Zakir and Noor Alam were part of the hockey team which won the first Asian Games gold medal in 1958. Hamidi as captain of the team along with M. H Atif, Zafar Hayat (both of whom later became brigadiers), Honorary Captains Bashir Ahmad and Noor Alam were part of the team which won the f irst Olympic crown in hockey for Pakistan. 1950s and 60s were the golden era of Pakistani sports, credit of which goes to the Pakistan Army, wherein not only in hockey, but in Athletics also, Havildar Mirza Khan, Subedar Abdul Khaliq, Honorary Captains Muhammad Iqbal, Muhammad Nawaz and Ghulam Raziq won gold medals in Asian Games. The list of silver and bronze medals is even longer. A total of 82 athletes of Pakistan Army in different disciplines have won medals in Olympics and the Asian Games so far. Honorary Captains Muhammad Iqbal, Ghulam Raziq, Faiz Muhammad and Naik Azhar Hussain won gold medals in athletics and wrestling events of the Commonwealth Games, whereas 8 other athletes also won silver and bronze medals. Pakistan Army rules the arena of sports in Pakistan, and has never lost the prestigious Quaid-e-Azam National Games trophy.

Pakistan Army underwent a tumultuous period after 9/11, and the American descent into neighbouring Afghanistan. Pakistan won the war of its survival against terrorists, in which many lost lives and a huge number lost limbs. Those who lost limbs were living under traumatic stress. Participation in sports buttressed the rehabilitation process of the war wounded. It allowed them to come out of the stress that they encountered as a result of a loss of limb, and become useful member of society and military culture. The results were seen when the same soldiers, as special athletes, participated in Paralympic Games in 2014, to represent Pakistan at the international level.

Why Sports are Essential? What Best can be Achieved?

Sports fosters a soldier's faith in his unit, reinforces group identity and makes soldiers ready to serve a common cause. Sports also bridge the gap between officers and men. These officers and men excel in sports, and also reach the highest rung of military leadership. Sports never become a hindrance for bright officers and men in their professional pursuits. Admiral Zaka Ullah won gold medals twice in the Asian Games and went on to become Chief of Naval Staff. It is for this reason that every army unit in the country has a large playground, which is also the training area. It clearly shows that sports are an essential requirement to construct a military mind, spirit and body.

Sports may also assist in identifying personality traits which can help the leadership in assignment of tasks. Sports competition can be exceedingly helpful to cultivate good traits in the personality of a soldier and young officer. A player manifests his boldness and offensive spirit in a game, whereas a timid player cannot hide his weakness even with his best skills. Moreover, a responsible player can easily be identified in the field. Sports therefore is a good instrument to ascertain officers’ and soldiers’ capabilities to perform difficult tasks on the battlefield. It is therefore strongly felt that: -

• In all training institutions of the army including PMA, sports and games should form part of the curriculum, not only as a leisure activity but as a proper training tool to improve physical and mental health, and assess trainees’ capabilities, to recommend their employment in operations.
• Sports activities in the units and formations should be a regular feature, to accrue benefits to discipline, and train all ranks. Sports activities can help a great deal in preparation and training of young soldiers for all types of operational and security tasks.
• In order to stave off young soldiers and officers from excessive use of social media, sporting activities among all ranks must be generated on weekends and in the evenings.

Sports must become a regular feature in all Army Public Schools and Federal Government Educational Institutions, with regular inter-school and inter-region sports competitions.

It has been established beyond doubt that the army as an institution supports the nation to keep its flag high, and sports are a binding force for the nation. A fine performance at international level helps gel the whole nation as one unit, it is therefore essential to support sporting activities at national level, to produce athletes like Brigadier Hamidi, Abdul Khaliq, Abdul Raziq and many more. This will keep the flame of competition burning in other national departments and teams, and the country will benefit.