However, my line has always been that, it requires sportspersons from other games / sports to achieve something in order for everyone to sit up and take notice. This is how Kapil's devils started the cricket mania in India. The onus is really on the individuals participating in other sports to make the difference, however difficult it might seem.
Truth be told, i am a big follower of cricket and am an active cricketer. However, i have nothing against other sports and feel proud at sporting achievements of our countrymen, irrespective of which sport/game they play.
Hence, i was pleasantly surprised to see the coverage of an Indian cricket victory against Sri Lanka in the 1st ODI was relegated to the 3rd sheet of the sports coverage in TOI
This despite the fact that India is pushing the newly crowned ICC top ranked South Africa for the top honours.
So what did the first page have?
Yuki Bhambri won the first junior singles title in Australian Open 2009 tennis by an Indian.
That obviously deserved accolades. But wait, there was more...
There was an article on Sania Mirza & Mahesh Bhupathi reaching the mixed doubles finals [and subsequently won the title - a first for Sania]
But the most surprising coverage was an article on the impending final singles tie FedEx & Rafael Nadal.
10-15 years back, before Leander Paes & then subsequently Mahesh Bhupathi arrived on the scene, tennis was nowhere in the Indian media and public radar [atleast as far as local talent is concerned]. Inspirations like these is what every sport needs in order to balance the coverage and give each sport its due. A similar story seems unfolding with Abhinav Bindra with shooting. He has taken a very active role in promoting shooting as a serious sport in India.
As India becomes a stronger tennis country with each passing year, here's one for the flagbearers Leander Paes & Mahesh Bhupathi. May they continue inspiring more Indians...
Cheers!
[ Now let the IPL take over ;-) ]
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