MAKING OF CHAMPIONS
Kapil Dev bats for parents encouraging children to take up sports
CRICKET legend Kapil Dev believes that the day Indian parents begin giving more emphasis to sports, the country will produce more champions across disciplines.
Dev said the mentality of Indian families towards sports have changed drastically over the years, but more needs to be done.
He was speaking close on the heels of the Indian men badminton team’s recent historic Thomas Cup triumph.
“I feel (it’s) the parents, not the kids. We produce more doctors, scientists, engineers in our country because parents want them to [take up that profession]. The day parents want their kid to become a sportsperson, we will produce champions,” he said in reponse to a question about the changes he has witnessed in Indian sports over the years that is propelling the country’s sportspersons to excel on the international arena.
Dev was the guest of honour at a special event hosted by the Consulate General of India in New York as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations to commemorate 75 years of Indian independence. The event was attended by members of the Indian diaspora and cricketing fans.
The cricket icon, considered one of the greatest all-rounders of all time, cited an example to prove his point, saying that if his daughter had to appear for her 10th grade examination and at the same time, play for junior India, he would tell her to “go and study”.
“But in America or Europe or Australia, they will say, ‘drop this year, play the juniors for your country and next year you give the exam.’ That thought process in our country hasn’t changed yet,” said Dev, who guided the Indian cricket team to its historic 1983 World Cup victory. “But it’s changing. That’s why I said parents are more important than the kids in our society, the way we are.”
Recalling his time as a young child, Dev noted that he used to hide his sports kit in his school bag and quietly go out and play, a scenario which has changed drastically with parents encouraging children to take up sports.
“Today I feel so proud to see parents taking their kids to go and play.”
In his remarks, Dev said at 75, India was a “young country” which has achieved what not many in the world have managed to do.
The consul general, Randhir Jaiswal, said the event celebrates the success of the legendary cricketer and “through his achievements, celebrates the contribution of cricket and sports in nation-building”.
He said Dev’s contribution to the game of cricket and 1983 World Cup title under his leadership is “ever etched in our minds.”
In December last year, the New York state governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation that recognises the sport of cricket as an important part of the social and cultural fabric of New York state, and expands the state’s capacity to officially promote the sport.
The legislation was sponsored by senator Kevin Thomas, the first Indian-American to serve in the New York state legislature, and assembly member Nily Rozic.
On the occasion, Thomas presented Dev with a copy of the certificate signed by the governor “proclaiming cricket as a sport that is worthy here in the state of New York”.
Indiaspora, a non-profit community of global Indian leaders, hosted the events in honour of Dev and also organised a private screening of the movie ’83 during his visit to the US.