Boxer-turned-politician Vijender Singh feels India wants extra heroes past cricket to encourage the long run generations if the nation desires to turn out to be a sports activities superpower by 2047.
These heroes, he believes, can even drive a cultural change, encouraging extra younger Indians to pursue sports activities as a occupation.
“We now have to create heroes to alter the tradition,” the previous Olympic and world championships bronze medal-winning boxer, who’s now a BJP chief, advised PTI editors at its headquarters in an interplay right here.
His feedback had been in response to a question on whether or not the federal government’s acknowledged purpose of creating India a sports activities superpower by 2047 was reasonable.
“Over time, the starvation to do effectively has stored rising amongst our youth, particularly these from the agricultural belt. So, once they see a Neeraj Chopra, they need to be like him. They need to have all that he has, and that drives them to excel,” Vijender identified referring to the javelin throw gold-medallist from the Tokyo Olympics.
“When youngsters see his image on a peanut butter container, it makes an influence. After I began out, I merely wished a authorities job, that’s all however right now, athletes need extra,” he added.
The Bhiwani-man additionally mentioned that enchancment within the nation’s sports activities infrastructure is essential to make sure the general progress .
“We don’t have good infrastructure or good stadiums. If we’re critical, we have to enhance that. You may’t simply make one cricket stadium and go away it at that.
“You should have coaching centres for different sports activities as effectively. In any other case somebody (in Delhi) who desires to study boxing has no possibility however to go to Sonepat and prepare there,” he mentioned.
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Vijender mentioned the change has to start out on the primary degree, in colleges, the place youngsters are allowed only one devoted sports activities or bodily training interval.
“We aren’t taught sports activities at school. There is just one PT interval however eight intervals for teachers. For us, sports activities is time go, not a profession.”
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Drawing a parallel with cricket, Vijender, the primary boxer from the nation to face on the Olympic podium, mentioned that even the legendary Kapil Dev was comparatively unknown to the lots earlier than he introduced house the 1983 World Cup.
“…how many individuals knew about Kapil Dev? Not many knew him earlier than he gained that World Cup.”
“Now, (we’re at a degree) the place if a cricketer’s finger will get harm, you’ll examine it however you gained’t hear the identical noise when a boxer’s jaw is damaged, that doesn’t make information.
Vijender mentioned Olympic medallists must also obtain a welcome at par with the victory parade that was organized for the T20 World Cup profitable Indian cricket workforce earlier this month.
“We (different athletes) do really feel unhealthy as a result of we additionally win medals for the nation. We even have the precise to a reception much like the one in Mumbai,” he mentioned.
“An Olympic medallist ought to get the same welcome however that gained’t occur. The medallist might be welcomed on the airport with garlands, proven on TV for someday after which they’re again to competitors.”
If I might, I’d give extra energy to SAI
Vijender, who joined BJP from Congress earlier than the Lok Sabha elections this 12 months, want to use his expertise as an athlete in making efficient modifications if he’s entrusted with the Sports activities Ministry in future.
“(If I turn out to be sports activities minister) I’ll make Sports activities Authority of India (SAI) stronger,” he mentioned, whereas speaking concerning the nodal physique of sports activities administration within the nation, entrusted with the job of dealing with logistics of nationwide camps, appointment of coaches and financing the worldwide publicity of athletes.
“I’ve received a variety of help from SAI, so I need to make it actually robust. I need to scale back the ability of the federations and provides them to SAI. The SAI ought to straight deal with the sportsperson,” he added.
Internet hosting Olympics in 2036 will encourage kids
India are planning to bid for the internet hosting rights of the 2036 Olympic Video games and Vijender feels it’s a step in the precise route which can encourage the youth to take up sports activities.
“We should always host the Olympics as individuals will get a possibility to observe the Olympics (totally free). Children will get impressed. Once they take a look at the rostrum and other people standing on the primary, second and third step…that’s the second they really feel impressed.”
Vijender, who was additionally the primary boxer from the nation to turn out to be world primary in his weight class, is assured that the nation might be able to host the largest sporting occasion when the time comes.
“We might be prepared by then. Even in 2010, it was tough (to host) the Commonwealth Video games nevertheless it was probably the greatest CWGs,” he recalled.
The 38-year-old drew comparability between the 2010 CWG held in New Delhi and the 2014 Glasgow version.
“There was a variety of controversy however these Video games had been actually good,” he asserted.
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“After that we went to Scotland and there we needed to pay for our meals typically, as there was a restrict on how a lot you would take. And once I in contrast the 2, 2010 was nice,” he added.
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Drawing a parallel with cricket, Vijender, the primary boxer from the nation to face on the Olympic podium, mentioned that even the legendary Kapil Dev was comparatively unknown to the lots earlier than he introduced house the 1983 World Cup.
“…how many individuals knew about Kapil Dev? Not many knew him earlier than he gained that World Cup.”
“Now, (we’re at a degree) the place if a cricketer’s finger will get harm, you’ll examine it however you gained’t hear the identical noise when a boxer’s jaw is damaged, that doesn’t make information.
Vijender mentioned Olympic medallists must also obtain a welcome at par with the victory parade that was organized for the T20 World Cup profitable Indian cricket workforce earlier this month.
“We (different athletes) do really feel unhealthy as a result of we additionally win medals for the nation. We even have the precise to a reception much like the one in Mumbai,” he mentioned.
“An Olympic medallist ought to get the same welcome however that gained’t occur. The medallist might be welcomed on the airport with garlands, proven on TV for someday after which they’re again to competitors.”
If I might, I’d give extra energy to SAI
Vijender, who joined BJP from Congress earlier than the Lok Sabha elections this 12 months, want to use his expertise as an athlete in making efficient modifications if he’s entrusted with the Sports activities Ministry in future.
“(If I turn out to be sports activities minister) I’ll make Sports activities Authority of India (SAI) stronger,” he mentioned, whereas speaking concerning the nodal physique of sports activities administration within the nation, entrusted with the job of dealing with logistics of nationwide camps, appointment of coaches and financing the worldwide publicity of athletes.
“I’ve received a variety of help from SAI, so I need to make it actually robust. I need to scale back the ability of the federations and provides them to SAI. The SAI ought to straight deal with the sportsperson,” he added.
Internet hosting Olympics in 2036 will encourage kids
India are planning to bid for the internet hosting rights of the 2036 Olympic Video games and Vijender feels it’s a step in the precise route which can encourage the youth to take up sports activities.
“We should always host the Olympics as individuals will get a possibility to observe the Olympics (totally free). Children will get impressed. Once they take a look at the rostrum and other people standing on the primary, second and third step…that’s the second they really feel impressed.”
Vijender, who was additionally the primary boxer from the nation to turn out to be world primary in his weight class, is assured that the nation might be able to host the largest sporting occasion when the time comes.
“We might be prepared by then. Even in 2010, it was tough (to host) the Commonwealth Video games nevertheless it was probably the greatest CWGs,” he recalled.
The 38-year-old drew comparability between the 2010 CWG held in New Delhi and the 2014 Glasgow version.
“There was a variety of controversy however these Video games had been actually good,” he asserted.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – PTI)
Siddarth Sriram
After coaching within the area of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for Ne
first printed: July 26, 2024, 17:04 IST
