Cricket legend Kapil Dev believes that the day Indian parents put more emphasis on sports, the country will produce more champions across all disciplines. Kapil said Indian parents’ attitudes towards sports have changed dramatically over the years, but more needs to be done. Kapil made the comments right on the heels of the Indian men’s badminton team’s historic Thomas Cup win on Sunday. “I feel (it is) the parents, not the children. We are producing more doctors, scientists and engineers in our country because parents want them to. The day parents want their child to be an athlete, we will produce all the champions,” he said. Kapil. Tuesday in New York.
He was responding to a question from PTI about the changes he has seen in Indian sports over the years that push the country’s athletes to excel in the international arena.
Kapil was the guest of honor at a special event hosted by the Consulate General of India in New York as part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations commemorating India’s 75th anniversary of independence. The event was attended by members of the Indian community and cricket fans.
Kapil, who is considered one of the greatest all-rounders of all time, cited an example in this regard, saying that if his daughter had to appear for the 10th grade exam and play for junior India at the same time, he would tell her “to go to study”.
“But in America or Europe or Australia they say drop this year, play for juniors for your country and next year you pass the exam. That thinking process in our country has not changed,” said Kapil, who led Indian cricket. team to its historic 1983 World Cup victory.
“But it’s changing. That’s why I said that parents are more important than the children in our society, as we are.”
Thinking back to his time as a young child, Kapil noted that he hid his sports equipment in his school bag and quietly went outside to play, a scenario that has changed dramatically as parents encourage their children to play sports.
“Today I’m so proud to see the parents bring their kids to play.”
In his comments, Kapil said that at 75, India is a “young country” that has achieved what not many people in the world have been able to do.
Consul General Randhir Jaiswal said the event will celebrate the legendary cricketer’s success and “celebrate the contribution of cricket and sport to nation building through his achievements”.
He said Kapil’s contribution to cricket and the 1983 World Cup title under his leadership “will always be etched in our memory”. Last December, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation recognizing the sport of cricket as an important part of New York State’s social and cultural fabric, expanding the state’s capacity to officially promote the sport. .
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The legislation was sponsored by Senator Kevin Thomas, the first Indian-American to serve as New York State Legislature and Assembly member Nily Rozic.
On the occasion, Thomas Kapil handed over a copy of the certificate signed by the governor “declaring cricket to be a sport worthy of here in New York State.” Indiaspora, a non-profit community of global Indian leaders, hosted the events in honor of Kapil and also hosted a private screening of the film ’83’ during his visit to the US.
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