PE2023: Tharman: Sports taught me to respect every teammate, including reserves

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On Sunday (Aug 27), Tharman Shanmugaratnam was speaking about leadership from experiences during one’s youth on The Straits Times show, Ask The Next President Anything.  For all PE2023 updates: https://bit.ly/3Kz6DX2  #PE2023

Transcript

00:00 Well, I was actually made by my experiences in youth.

00:03 I was made for life by my experiences in youth.

00:06 And sports, more than anything else, made me for life.

00:11 I played sports virtually every day of the year,

00:13 sometimes two sports a day, a practice

00:16 and a competitive match.

00:18 And it really shaped the way I thought,

00:22 the way I related to other people,

00:25 and the way I treated the realities of life,

00:27 that you take knocks, you keep falling down,

00:29 and you've got to bring yourself up.

00:31 Most importantly, sports taught me

00:34 how to respect every member of the team.

00:38 Some people are good at some things.

00:39 Some people are good at some other things.

00:41 Some are wonderful on the wings.

00:43 Some are wonderful in defense.

00:45 But you've got to respect everyone.

00:47 And respect the reserves, who are waiting on the sidelines,

00:50 hoping they'll have a chance to play.

00:51 Because I was often a captain, I'd

00:53 always make sure our reserves had a chance to take

00:56 part in competitive matches.

00:58 I learned to respect my opponents through sports,

01:01 because you never keep winning.

01:03 You never keep winning.

01:04 You can train the entire year, you reach the finals,

01:07 and you lose.

01:08 And you must know how to lose graciously,

01:11 and you must know how to win graciously.

01:13 So sports taught me so much of what

01:16 has lasted through my life.

01:18 I'll never give it away for anything.

01:21 And I'm still, at heart, a sportsman in my mind.

01:26 [MUSIC PLAYING]

01:29 [MUSIC PLAYING]

01:32 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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