‘Sport still not a career option in India’
Abhishek Bachchan wants India to celebrate its limited success
R o b i n C h at t e r j e e
Bollywood superstar Abhishek Bachchan has advised planning, caution and patience as the key ingredients to uplift Indian sport if the country plans to make any impact at all on the international scene.
India, a country of over one billion people, boasts a rich cultural heritage and a buoyant economy and yet its sportsmen and women make a negligible impact on the international scene. The London Olympics was a case in point with the economic superpower having won only four medals — this makes a medal for every 350 million Indians and surely that is a cause for frustration.
“I feel strongly about how we need to prop up sports in India,” said the junior Bachchan, a brand ambassador of Omega, one of the sponsors of the Games. His father Amitabh Bachchan, a Bollywood megastar and an icon in the film industry, carried the Olympic torch in the last leg of the relay in London a day before the Olympics.
Recreational activity
When invited to opine on why India is still a sporting midget Abhishek stated, “I feel that sports is still a recreational activity in India and people now need to understand that it can be a good career option. If there is a career in sports then it is not necessary to become a doctor, engineer or lawyer. Sports was given importance when I was in school. It develops our character and fosters team play. It is also beneficial for the profile of a nation.
“One out of every six people in the world is an Indian and I am looking forward to the day when we can compete with the heavyweights of the world.”
Asked if failure to win enough medals could cause anger back home, Bachchan Jr said: ‘“Let us celebrate instead of being angry. With support
Bollywood star
dedication and encouragement we can win a medal.
“I am not angry about it,” he said, adding: “I would rather celebrate a medal than get angry. I think it’s a Herculean task to qualify for the Olympics alone. We must also work a bit back home trying to promote sports, it’s a long road but we have started the journey. With support, dedication and encouragement we are going to win.”
The actor, however, agreed that sportsmen in India were successful despite the poor system and not because of it. A talented worldbeater like female boxer Mary Kom was a shining example of the apathy of sports authorities and yet she rose to win a medal in London. “I would tell the authorities, if they listen to me, that please give attention to sportspeople. I do agree that there is a lot more that we can do to fund sportspeople, encourage them and safeguard their future as well. I think whatever we can do we should try and do.”