Sports can groom somebody into a good human being

“We need more corporates to support sports. If you put your children to sports, I am sure they will get stronger,” says Ajit Pal Singh.

Sports is about competing. It’s about winning. But it is also about emotion, a human connection between spectators and those taking part, and even between athletes. At the Sportstar Aces Awards in Mumbai, there were so many such moments that allowed that connection.

One such moment was when dragflicker Rupinder Pal Singh stopped after breakfast to touch former hockey captain Ajit Pal Singh’s feet and exchanged a few pleasantries.

Rupinder, a bronze-medallist from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and Ajit Pal, who led India to the 1975 Hockey World Cup win, are pillars to a bridge that connects Indian hockey’s golden yore to present-day promise and pride.

Ajit Pal, one of India’s greatest midfielders, was in Mumbai to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sportstar Aces Awards function.

He thanked The Hindu Group and Sportstar for conferring the Lifetime Achievement award on him. “Thank you very much, Mr. Sunil Gavaskar, Chairman of the jury. I must thank Sportstar. We used to have Sports and Pastime during my time. I was very lucky I also had some pictures in that magazine.

“We are sitting as sporting family. We are seeing big corporates like Reliance, IOC promoting sports. We need more corporates to support sports. If you put your children to sports, I am sure they will get stronger. Sports can groom somebody into a good human being. We have really made India proud recently and I am especially proud of the hockey team. They have broken the jinx. I am sure they will keep doing well. They have to go higher up the ladder.”

Ajit Pal also touched upon the gory scenes that marred the Munch Olympics in 1972. Fifty years ago, Palestinian terrorists shot dead 11 Israeli athletes and coaches following a hostage drama at the Games Village. Ajit Pal and Vece Paes, father of Indian tennis great Leander, were part of the Indian hockey team and in Munich at the time.

“We were sharing quarters in the vicinity of where the mayhem was unfolding. The team was cautioned by the management. It was really scary. Thank God, our team was united and safe.”

K. R. DEEPAK World Cup winner and Olympian Ajit Pal Singh speaking after being honoured with the IDFC Lifetime Achievement Award by Sunil Gavaskar and M. M. Somaya during the Sportstar Aces in Mumbai. Mr. Balakrishnan Madhivanan, Chief Operating Officer, IDFC First Bank is at extreme right.