Champion. A word that encompasses a wide range of qualities that come together in the most eclectic yet balanced and ultimately, stunning combination. As Champions League Twenty20 kicks off its third high-powered season, it has become clear that the competition reveals striking new talent as much as it revels in the cricketing world’s most celebrated figures. And what better way to embody all the features of the prestigious competition than in a bespoke trophy, all poise, splendour and radiance?
Just like the Nokia CLT20 stars who will take the field come September 23, the trophy, too, has undergone a 'training process', if you like. Far outnumbering the support staff of a team, 23 craftsmen set about their task meticulously to bring out a trophy worthy of the champion of champions.
Every sportsman knows that the basis of success is hours of perseverance in the nets, honing one's skills and correcting the errors in technique before going out and mesmerising spectators.
Accordingly, the base of the Nokia CLT20 trophy is a solid mass of wood, shaped to perfection and providing the humble structure on which the embellishments are mounted. High-intensity cricket requires players to be at their best in all three aspects of the game, and why expect less of the trophy? The sparkling artifact epitomises the all-round qualities of a true champion, made up of four vital and inter-connected parts. The coming together of various talents, skills and values is crucial in the development of a cricketer, revealing, finally, the well-groomed star. Bit by bit, the trophy too was assembled, starting modestly but ending its journey as a shimmering icon. Like on the T20 stage, the 'long handle' was put to good use in the trophy-making process: cast in long solid silver rods, the handles of the trophy were machined to the required diameter after which they were hand-beaten into shape.
The long and laborious process of putting the various components of the trophy together presented many challenges. Manufacturing and polishing a delicate object of its size ranked high amongst these. Accordingly, two or three craftsmen had to ensure the trophy wouldn't slip away while it was being assembled or polished.
Whoever said only cricketers were afraid the coveted trophy might slip from their hands? A marvellous combination of beauty and grace, the Nokia CLT20 trophy is now ready to take on the world. It remains to be seen which team of 11 champions will see their faces reflected in this spectacular award on October 9, 2011, the day of reckoning.
