Catching up with sports stars in Delhi

Addressing a gathering of budding athletes and their parents, Vijender Singh, Bhaichung Bhutia, Murlikant Petkar, Pranav Soorma, Aditi Chauhan, Aditi Nandy, Jyothi Surekha and Heena Sidhu, came together for the event at IILM Auditorium, Unleashing the Sporting Spirit: Overcoming Challenges and Driving Excellence, organised by YFLO in collaboration with M3M Foundation, to talk about their journey and passion for sports. A common sentiment that resonated with all the sporting trailblazers was - ‘remember the joy your sport brings you’.

Boxer Vijender Singh, who is pursuing movies and politics too, said, “Boxing is my identity; it is my soul. I may do films in Bollywood or try Hollywood or contest elections, but boxing seems the easiest, as it comes naturally to me. Other fields are very complicated, but I still like to try.” When a young badminton player in the audience asked Vijender for tips to stay motivated, he said, “Jo kaam karna hai uske liye motivation ki zarurat thodi na hoti hai. Jo karna hai woh toh karna hai, that’s it. Just do it.”

Bhaichung Bhutia, former Indian football team captain, said, “We choose a sport based on our environment, but we continue to play a game because of the love and passion we have for that sport. If you must constantly look for motivation, it means that the passion for the game is lacking. Parents and coaches shouldn’t put any kind of pressure on the children who are into sports. The education system needs to evolve and become flexible for children who take up sports and encourage all disciplines of sports.”

Shooter Heena Sidhu, said, “A champion is a champion because of their attitude. So, every sportsperson needs to have the right attitude and give their 100% to whatever they do.”

'Need a good sporting ecosystem'
Paralympian Pranav Soorma, who recently won a silver medal in the Men’s Club Throw event at Paris, was elated to meet the real-life Chandu Champion, swimmer Murlikant Petkar, India’s first Paralympic gold medalist. He said, “The more we support para-athletes, the more medals we’ll get.”

Murlikant added, “India ke rural areas mein sporting talent hai, lekin coaches and academies nahi. Bahut zaroorat hai ek achha sporting ecosystem banane ki.”

“Listening to the national anthem at any world championship is a very special feeling. Every person in the (Indian) sports fraternity wishes that Jana Gana Mana be played in every tournament; jitni baar play ho utna kam hai,” said archer Jyothi Surekha.

'Sports instils discipline for life'
Talking about sports being a great teacher, footballer Aditi Chauhan, said, “I love being on the field, taking the charge and being in the goalkeeper position. I could do well because I love the game. The journey to get to the leadership position is a lonely one. Throughout the process, if there's one thing that keeps you going, is remembering the times when you started playing the sport, to remember the joy it gives you. Sports instils discipline in you, that stays with you for life. It has made me competent to do other things too.”

While powerlifter Aditi Nandy, added, “Women sportspersons are hustling, breaking stereotypes. They are unstoppable today”

Dr. Payal Kanodia, Chairperson YFLO Delhi and Trustee M3M Foundation, said, “This event showcased the indomitable spirit of our athletes, proving that no challenge is insurmountable when met with determination. It exemplified the power of dreams, resilience, and perseverance."

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