“You have got to learn how to vibe alone. You can’t live your life being dependent on other sources of energy. You have the ability to be self-sufficient so tap into yourself once in a while.”

 -Megan Roxanne

Reflecting on these famous lines is the new talk-show premiered by Epic Channel. The famed cricketer Virender Sehwag is seen calling the shots of this chat show. Titled as ‘Umeed India’, the show sheds light on the intrinsic make of the lives of 13 sportspersons who aim at gracefully acing the Olympics 2020. In a warm and candid tete-a-tete with Sehwag, these athletes talk of their mundane challenges, their fight against a prejudiced society and the big picture that lies ahead. With Umeed India, Sehwag himself is seen traveling to the abodes of these players and capturing their journey.

In dialogue with the tagline ’13 khiladi, sapna ek’, the Umeed India frame captures the hustle of athletes such as freestyle wrestler and Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik, wrestler Vinesh Phogat, Paralympics swimmer Suyash Yadav and the likes of them. Although, every athlete is struggling against different battles of their kind, each one envisions one destination: Olympic/ Paralympic gold respectively.

After long last and years of struggle Indian athletes are now claiming magnanimous victories in the domain of sports at an international level. No wonder, witnessing their battles in the arena stirs in us an inexplicable sense of purpose and an overwhelming gush of adrenaline. However the actual battle that these brave souls overpower to kiss the arena with their presence is more than what meets the eye. Umeed India is that occult story of fortitude, indomitable will and a constant defiance of impuissance.

Virender Sehwag also shares some inspiring musings from his life which was always encompassed by one nimbus -cricket. What’s more, the motivating discourses and a peek into the utterly austere  and regime-bound lives of the athletes is gripping so much so that it is surely bound to move one to look into their fears dead in its eye and claim the unfinished dreams.

A coze with these aspiring athletes also reveals the sphere that demands development in India’s sports scenario. A nation like India where numerous starry-eyed players are looming above the tides of uncharted waters to engrave their names in the history of the world, it is apparent that with some more aid from the government more victories could be assured. The only frailty that some of the young aspirers face is the dearth of appropriate resources/ funding and support be it emotional or materialistic and this tethers their wings for a lifetime. 

With its captivating idea, Umeed India is truly set to inspire scores of people and demonstrate that all forms of weakness exist only in the mind. Breaking these tethers and rising beyond them is a personal choice and every single person is equipped with the strength to do so. The chat show is bound to mark its spot as one of the most empowering shows of 2017.