Hockey should be encouraged more: Akshay Kumar

ACTOR Akshay Kumar, who is the lead role in his multi-starrer upcoming film Gold, based on hockey, says the game should get more spotlight as it holds a place of pride for the country.

Considering that Bollywood has thrown the spotlight on hockey with films like Chak De India, upcoming Soorma and Gold, Kumar said making such films would give the sport the attention it deserved. “People should know more about other sports like hockey and football rather than only cricket. The audience should know more about hockey and it should be encouraged. People should know what happened in 1948… How we won the first Olympic gold medal in hockey after the independence of India.

“I think things also have changed because the government is supporting the sport a lot. The number of medals are increasing in the game, so I am happy seeing the encouragement.”

Kumar is playing a Bengali character named Tapan Das, who had a dream to win the gold medal in hockey, representing an independent India.

Though the game of hockey is popular, for the longest time the nation was under the impression that it is India’s national game. However, people recently came to know there was no official recognition of hockey as a national sport.

“I hope after this film, hockey gets the respect it commands. It is an important game that gave our country the first-ever Olympic gold medal after independence. So I hope things change after our film.”

Gold will release on August 15. - IANS