How often do you hear a celebrated cricketer say that the only reason behind cricketers in India being put on a pedestal is the sheer popularity of the game in India and that non-cricket sports athletes who overcome almost impossible odds at times to win medals for India in continental and world events are the real heroes. That's exactly what Indian cricketer and former India captain Gautam Gambhir has said in a candid interview to TimesofIndia.com.
Talking about India's overall performance in Indonesia, where India won the most number of medals in one edition of the Asian Games (69) and equaled their best ever performance in terms of gold medals won (15), Gambhir said, "It has been fabulous, absolutely fascinating. Look at Swapna Barman's story. This is what creates heroes. I have always been a believer that cricketers are put on a pedestal because cricket is the most popular sport in the country. But there are some absolute, real heroes in other sports as well. Look at what our athletes have done, look at what your badminton players have done, look at what your shooters have done. They have worked equally hard. There are many more heroes (in non-cricket sports) as compared to what you create in cricket in India. These are the actual heroes."
At this edition of the Asian Games, stories of some star performers like Dutee Chand (silver in 100m & 200m), Manjit Singh (gold in 800m), Tejinderpal Singh Toor (gold in shot put) and Swapna Barman (gold in heptathlon) defying almost insurmountable odds made almost everyone sit up and ask, "Why do our athletes have to struggle so much?" And Gambhir is no different.
Speaking to TimesofIndia.com he said, "They (non-cricket sports athletes) have gone through so much financially, from the facilities point of view. Personally if you ask me, look at what some of the athletes have achieved, coming from humble backgrounds. They are your actual heroes. I am sure things will get better for them," he added.
"But people would have never recognised them had they not won the medals, but from now on I hope things get better and some of our athletes don't have to struggle so much. Personally if you ask me they are much bigger achievers than what cricketers achieve on the cricket field. I know we are doing the same thing for our country, but look at the amount of facilities and money cricketers get as compared to what these athletes get. So, if I have to be honest about who the real heroes are, it's those athletes who have struggled so much in their life and gone past all odds and created history for India," the World Cup-winner said.
Talking about India's overall performance in Indonesia, where India won the most number of medals in one edition of the Asian Games (69) and equaled their best ever performance in terms of gold medals won (15), Gambhir said, "It has been fabulous, absolutely fascinating. Look at Swapna Barman's story. This is what creates heroes. I have always been a believer that cricketers are put on a pedestal because cricket is the most popular sport in the country. But there are some absolute, real heroes in other sports as well. Look at what our athletes have done, look at what your badminton players have done, look at what your shooters have done. They have worked equally hard. There are many more heroes (in non-cricket sports) as compared to what you create in cricket in India. These are the actual heroes."
India's Asian Games heroes bigger achievers than cricketers: Gautam Gambhir
02:24
At this edition of the Asian Games, stories of some star performers like Dutee Chand (silver in 100m & 200m), Manjit Singh (gold in 800m), Tejinderpal Singh Toor (gold in shot put) and Swapna Barman (gold in heptathlon) defying almost insurmountable odds made almost everyone sit up and ask, "Why do our athletes have to struggle so much?" And Gambhir is no different.
Speaking to TimesofIndia.com he said, "They (non-cricket sports athletes) have gone through so much financially, from the facilities point of view. Personally if you ask me, look at what some of the athletes have achieved, coming from humble backgrounds. They are your actual heroes. I am sure things will get better for them," he added.
"But people would have never recognised them had they not won the medals, but from now on I hope things get better and some of our athletes don't have to struggle so much. Personally if you ask me they are much bigger achievers than what cricketers achieve on the cricket field. I know we are doing the same thing for our country, but look at the amount of facilities and money cricketers get as compared to what these athletes get. So, if I have to be honest about who the real heroes are, it's those athletes who have struggled so much in their life and gone past all odds and created history for India," the World Cup-winner said.
Source : timesofindia[dot]indiatimes[dot]com
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