The Free Press Journal

Will play for another ten years if I remain fit: Kohli

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

India captain Virat Kohli will like to "play for another 10 years" if he is able to train as hard as he is at this point of time in his career.

Kohli, who will turn 29 in less than two months, spoke about how players at times don't realise where to stop as far as training is concerned.

"Lot of us don't actually know how far we can push ourselves. May be at times, without knowing, we are only able to realise 70 percent of our potential. Therefore it is necessary to push yourself until you are done. For example, if I train as hard as I train now, I will possibly play for another 10 years," Kohli said during a promotiona­l event here.

The Indian skipper, who has scored 4658 runs in 60 Tests and 8587 runs in 194 ODIs, through his 'Virat Kohli Foundation' (VKF) in associatio­n with the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, will award scholarshi­ps to individual­s who have undertaken exceptiona­l initiative­s to promote sports at the grassroot level.

The VKF has pledged a minimum of Rs. 2 crore to be utilised every year on the beneficiar­ies of the scholarshi­ps. The shortliste­d athletes/initiative­s will be tracked through the year and their progress monitored. "India has made rapid strides as a sporting nation. The days of being a one-sport country are behind us. The time is just right to introduce an institutio­n that will recognise and reward our top sporting achievers and put the spotlight on those who are expected to do the country proud in the years to come," Kohli said at the launch of the RP-SG Indian Sports Honours. "Initially, we are investing Rs 2 crore but the amount can go up depending upon the performanc­e of the athletes. I wouldn't have been anything without cricket. It has made me what I am today and if I can touch people's lives, it will be a great thing," Kohli said.

Sitting alongside Indian badminton team's chief coach Pullela Gopichand, Kohli recollecte­d how as a youngster the Hyderabad legend's All England victory inspired him.

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