Former Indian tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi emphasized the importance of hosting the Olympics in India, advocating for a bid in either 2036 or 2046 during the Trailblazers 3.0 Conclave in Kolkata. He highlighted the challenges faced by non-cricket sports due to the financial dominance of the BCCI, which supports grassroots initiatives unlike other sports organizations. Bhupathi praised young tennis talent Maaya Rajeshwaran, who has already won six ITF titles at just 15. Indian squash player Saurav Ghosal and badminton coach Pullela Gopichand echoed Bhupathi’s sentiments on the need for Olympic hosting to boost sports development in India.
Former Indian tennis legend Mahesh Bhupathi emphasized the need for India to host the Olympics, while addressing the obstacles faced by non-cricket sports in the country. Bhupathi made these remarks at the Trailblazers 3.0 Conclave organized by RevSportz in Kolkata. He asserted, “We must host the Olympics, whether it’s in 2036 or 2046.” Importantly, India has shown keen interest in being the host for the 2036 Summer Olympics. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) submitted a ‘Letter of Intent’ to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Future Host Commission on October 1 last year, indicating India’s willingness to host the Olympics and Paralympics in 2036.
Regarding the challenges other sports encounter in India, Bhupathi noted, “The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) channels funds down to the under-14 level in districts and villages. The BCCI is a private entity with financial resources. However, other sports do not have that privilege.”
Bhupathi also praised the young promising tennis player Maaya Rajeshwaran, who, at just 15 years old, has already secured six International Tennis Federation (ITF) singles titles and is considered a rising star for India in the sport. He remarked about Maaya, “Tennis is a vast arena, and we are talking about only one Maaya. In Spain, for instance, they have 30-40 Maayas.”
Indian squash champion Saurav Ghosal concurred with Bhupathi on the significance of India hosting the Olympics, stating, “Creating that momentum is essential.”
Pullela Gopichand, the former All England champion and current chief coach of Indian badminton, highlighted how India failed to maintain the momentum generated by the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi, where India achieved a remarkable tally of 101 medals.
“At that time, we lacked the necessary infrastructure. It has improved significantly now,” he remarked.
Adille Sumariwalla, vice-president of World Athletics, added: “We need to concentrate on sports that provide multiple medal opportunities.”
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