The former star of Indian tennis Mahesh Bhupathi said that India was to host the Olympic Games and also talked about the challenges that uncricket sports are confronted in India. Bhupathi was expressed at the Conclave at Trailblazers 3.0 organized by Revsportz in Kolkata. Speaking in the conclave, Bhupathi said: “We have to welcome the Olympic Games, whether in 2036 or 2046.” In particular, India expressed its interest in welcoming the 2036 summer Olympic Games. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA), on October 1 of last year, officially sent a “letter of intent” to the future host commission of the International Committee (CIO), expressing the interest of India to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036.
On the challenges encountered by India in other sports, Bhupathi said: “The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) filters money at under 14, with districts and villages. The BCCI is a private organization. It has money. But other sports cannot do it.”
Bhupathi also spoke of the young booming tennis star Maaya Rajeshwaran, who won six titles from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) at the age of 15 and promises to be the next big star of India in sport. He said about Maaya: “Tennis is a big world and we are talking about a single maaya. In Spain, for example, they have 30 to 40 maayas.”
Indian Squash Ace, Saurav Ghosal, also agreed with Bhupathi on India which hosts the Olympic Games saying: “It is important to create this momentum”.
The former All England champion and chief coach of the Indian badminton Pullela Gopichand also explained how India failed to take momentum after the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which were organized in New Delhi and saw India win 101 medals.
“We didn’t have the infrastructure then. It’s much better now,” he added.
Adille Sumariwalla, vice-president of world athletics, said: “We have to focus on sports that have several medal opportunities.”
(With the exception of the title, this story has not been published by NDTV staff and is published from a unionized flow.)
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