Congratulating Neeraj Chopra for his stunning throw of 88.13 m at the World Athletic championship, SK Narvar, Chairman, Capital India Corp said sportspersons from India are pulling out all stops to put their best foot forward at the global arena.
Ques: Over the last few years, Indian sportspersons have made India proud with their achievements at the global level. What, according to you, is a key factor for this?
SK Narvar: Over the last few years, the Indian government under PM Modi has put in place several policies to encourage sportspersons, develop stadiums and ensure that Indian athletes have access to international coaches, equipment, and environment for training. It is a catalyst for our recent successes.
Neeraj Chopra’s historic feat by winning a silver at the World Athletics Championships, 2022, after his wonderful performance at the Tokyo Olympics is commendable. It is a proud moment for every Indian that his self-belief, discipline, and practice ultimately brought results. I would like to thank PM Modi and the Union Sports Minister for bringing in energy and commitment to Indian sports.
Ques: For a cricket-crazy country like India, other sports used to take a backseat till a few years ago. What led to this shift?
SK Narvar: I think today cricket and other Indian sports share a healthy space, though the popularity of cricket among Indians cannot be denied. This is because of the government’s constant support to ensure that other sports are encouraged equally in India, not just cricket. Today, government funds for non-cricketing sports and athletes are available and Indian sportspersons don’t need to survive on only private sponsorship. Even in remote places like Leh-Ladakh, we have a women’s ice hockey team which has done exceptionally well. We have shining examples of Manu Bhaker in shooting and Manika Batra in table tennis, to name a few.
Ques: Give us an example of how the government is encouraging sports culture at the grassroots level?
SK Narvar: Well, the Khelo India Youth Games began in 2018 with an aim to revive India’s sporting culture by engaging youngsters at the grassroots level. Building better sports infrastructure and academies throughout the country for various sports is part of this initiative. Talented players across sports disciplines are given annual assistance of Rs 5 lakh per annum for a period of eight years. Today, the government is committed to further the cause of sporting talent at the global level, and we have seen the results with so many Indian athletes and teams making a mark in international competitions.
Ques: Do you think sports can be used as a soft diplomatic measure to build our country’s prestige globally?
SK Narvar: Of course. Nothing appeals to people more than their shared love for sports. Indian sportspersons competing and winning in global tournaments ensures higher recognition and respect for Brand India. Sports diplomacy uses the universal sporting passion to eliminate socio-cultural differences and unite people. To quote Nelson Mandela, “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.”
