‘India will also be called a sporting country’ – Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar predicts India’s future as multi-sport nation, praises Neeraj, Pranoy and Praggnanandhaa
Sunil Gavaskar (Source: Twitter)
The last few days have been phenomenal for Indian sports; from chess grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa to javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, India has had various opportunities to feel proud. From being a one-sport country to moving towards a multisports nation, India has come a long way but is still so far from being a sporting powerhouse. However, former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar believes that India will be a sporting powerhouse soon.
While lauding the achievements of Praggnanandhaa, Neeraj, and badminton star HS Pranoy Gavaskar, he said that in the next decade, India will be an all-sports nation. It’s worth noting that Neeraj won gold at the World Athletics Championship and became the first Indian to do so. Praggnanandhaa created history by reaching the finals of the World Chess Championship, while Pranoy beat World No. 1 Victor Alexen en route to clinching bronze at the World Badminton Championship.
At an event on Monday, Gavaskar said, “Earlier, you would see that only a few sports would be talked about; media coverage would only be for those. Now all sports have an outlet and exposure, and because of the other sports, we are getting to see the emergence of stars.
Sunil Gavaskar recalls his celebration after Neeraj Chopra’s Olympic triumph
Further speaking about Neeraj Chopra’s success Gavaskar said, “I remember when he (Neeraj Chopra) had won the Tokyo Olympics gold, the India-England series was going on. While watching from England, I was prompted to sing a song, ‘Mere desh ki dharti sona ugle. Yesterday, I experienced the same feeling.
“We had seen Neeraj two years earlier when he won the gold medal in the Olympics. Last year he won a silver medal, but for him, it was important to win the gold medal, and with a long throw he did it,” Gavaskar further added. The little master further praised Praggnanandhaa and Pranoy for their performances and said that they would inspire a generation.
“On the other hand, in badminton Worlds, Prannoy reached the semifinals, and he defeated Viktor Axelsen. If you see the exposure that Indian sportspersons are getting, If you think about America and Australia as sporting countries, I feel that in 10–15 years’ time, India will also be called a sporting country. Praggnanandhaa finished as the runner-up. He is just 18; going forward, he can win many titles in the future,” he added.
