Rekha Khatri

PhD Student @Sydney_Uni
Interests ranging from politics to pop culture!

[वरुण 🇮🇳 @varungrover]

On the face of it, sports looks like being only about winning and losing.

Go deeper and it’s about exploring and confronting your body, mind, and ethics.

Go deeper still - like these legends here - and it may just reveal the best ways to live - with humility, empathy, humour, and constantly seeking meaningful relationships.

Today, we all are Tashi Duncan.

[Roger Federer @rogerfederer]

Vamos, @RafaelNadal!

As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I’ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional.

Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me—a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground. You made me reimagine my game—even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge.

I’m not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals. Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear... All of it with the highest intensity. Secretly, I kind of loved the whole thing. Because it was so unique—it was so you.

And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more. 

OK, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the #1 ranking for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was—until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly. All that buzz I’d been hearing about you—about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major someday—it wasn’t just hype.

We were both at the start of our journey and it’s one we ended up taking together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens—historic! You made Spain proud... you made the whole tennis world proud.

I keep thinking about the memories we’ve shared. Promoting the sport together. Playing that match on half-grass, half-clay. Breaking the all-time attendance record by playing in front of more than 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always cracking each other up. Wearing each other out on the court and then, sometimes, almost literally having to hold each other up during trophy ceremonies.

I’m still grateful you invited me to Mallorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016. Actually, I kind of invited myself. I knew you were too polite to insist on me being there, but I didn’t want to miss it. You have always been a role model for kids around the world, and Mirka and I are so glad that our children have all trained at your academies. They had a blast and learned so much—like thousands of other young players. Although I always worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties.

And then there was London—the Laver Cup in 2022. My final match. It meant everything to me that you were there by my side—not as my rival but as my doubles partner. Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career.

Rafa, I know you’re focused on the last stretch of your epic career. We will talk when it’s done. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who all played a massive role in your success. And I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you, and will be cheering just as loud for everything you do next.

Rafa that!

Best always, your fan, 

Roger

[Rekha Khatri @simplyrekha]

@rimal_pragya The feeling is mutual; thanks @rimal_pragya!

[Rekha Khatri @simplyrekha]

Thanks @BibhavAcharya for your support in leading the write-up of this paper, and summarizing the insights here!

[Bibhav Acharya, MD @BibhavAcharya]

Changing habits isn’t easy, especially in health. Well-meaning reminders and advice (“It’s important to take your meds”) rarely work.

In this @NIMHgov funded study, we asked: can we teach community health workers advanced counseling skills to improve healthy behaviors? 🧵

[Rekha Khatri @simplyrekha]

Thanks to amazing co-authors @rimal_pragya, Maria Ekstrand, Sabitri Sapkota, @KripaSigdel, Dikshya Sharma, Jene Shrestha, Srijana Shrestha, and @BibhavAcharya

[Rekha Khatri @simplyrekha]

Pleased to share our new publication! We wrote about barriers and facilitators for Community Health Workers (CHWs) to use a novel mHealth tool to deliver Motivational Interviewing (MI) to improve adherence among Youth Living with HIV (YLWH) in rural Nepal. https://t.co/qlxiO2SbMr

[Karun Pal @karunpal]

Introverts love doing nothing. Sitting alone in their house. Eating snacks, watching movies, staring at walls, random dance moves, pausing at the window, rooftop sunsets. This is what calms their mind & nourishes their soul. The ordinary. The little things. But you won't get it.

[Rekha Khatri @simplyrekha]

@ReelReptile Was so waiting for this-- thank you Rahul!

[Rekha Khatri @simplyrekha]

@mail2neeti @oberlincollege What great news! Many, many congratulations, Neeti ji!

[Rekha Khatri @simplyrekha]

Dr. Roger Federer, Class of 2024 :)
Full of warmth, grace, and wisdom!

[Bastien Fachan @BastienFachan]

Roger Federer’s Commencement Address at Dartmouth yesterday might be the best speech he’s ever given.

Amazingly articulate, funny, full of wisdom. Made me laugh and tear up. I’m so very proud to have had him as my idol for the past two decades.

If you have 25 minutes to spare…

[Darab Farooqui @darab_farooqui]

I have to say this, @_YogendraYadav, in this clip, has Bruce Lee'd Chuck Rahul Kanwal Norris in the brutal "way of the dragon"

[Rekha Khatri @simplyrekha]

It's pleasant how Indian election results is inspiring hope in these divisive times! Would be interesting to see how things change in the days to come!

[Rekha Khatri @simplyrekha]

This is such exciting news! Many congratulations everyone, and good luck with implementation!

[Possible @possiblehealth]

🎉 Big news! 🎉
Thrilled to share that Sabitri Sapkota Devkota & @BibhavAcharya have received a 5-year R01 grant from @NIMHgov for a study on reducing intimate partner violence & depression in Nepal. 🇳🇵 (1/4)

[Possible @possiblehealth]

🌟 Saul Levin, @APApsychiatric CEO, has extended a special invitation to @BibhavAcharya to share our groundbreaking work in mental health care in rural Nepal. 🇳🇵

📅 Don’t miss this CEO-invited special session
📢 @APApsychiatric 2024
🗓️ May 8th
⏰ 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
#APA2024

[Rekha Khatri @simplyrekha]

@khetaarey I felt the same when I first saw Karnali river!

[Bibhav Acharya, MD @BibhavAcharya]

Many women face violence from their husbands, but are unable to divorce. How can we help?

Next week at #CUGH2024, we will be sharing our findings from an innovative study that brings the mother-in-law, husband, and daughter-in-law together to reduce domestic violence. Come by!

[Rekha Khatri @simplyrekha]

Thanks, Pragya! Good luck with the presentations! Looking fwd to hear responses on this important work!

[Rekha Khatri @simplyrekha]

cc: @swarapan

[Sagar Budhathoki 🇳🇵 @sagarb1996]

जाजरकोटबाट काठमाडौं आइसक्दा पनि कानमा सिंगो गाउँको क्रन्दन गुञ्जिरहेछ। सँगै मनभरी तपाईंको नेतृत्वमा रहेको सरकारको भूमिकाले आक्रोश सिर्जना गरिरहेछ। थुप्रै प्रश्न छन् तपाईंसँग सोध्नुपर्ने। थुप्रै आक्रोश छन्, भू्कम्पपीडित गाउँलेका तपाईंसमक्ष पुर्‍याउनुपर्ने।
https://t.co/7DRdlVXQMo

[Rekha Khatri @simplyrekha]

That was some madness by Maxwell! Was rooting for Afghanistan but what an unbelievable innings Maxwell played! #CWC23