Kolkata, India, March 7, 2023: Trailblazers - the biggest sporting conclave to be held in India - attracted a galaxy of sports stars past and present to celebrate Indian sports on Sunday, March 5 at Kolkata, India.
The conclave provided a big platform to discuss critical issues and provide ideas and solutions to enhance Indian sports.
Taking about pressure in sports, Abhinav Bindra, India's first individual gold medallist in the Olympic Games, in shooting, said: “It is uncomfortable. It became easier when I accepted it and focused on what I had to do. When I stopped chasing self-belief and chased self-respect, I was a winner already.”
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games silver medalist in weightlifting, Mirabai Chanu, mentioned how back-to-back medals in the Olympic Games and World Championships had helped her. “There will be pressure to win the Asian Games but I can learn from it. I will give my best to achieve that dream. India has prayed for me and given me so much love. I want the blessings and wishes of all Indians,” she said.
Olympian shooter Manu Bhaker agreed with hockey star Vandana Kataria that things had improved in the past few years but echoed the thoughts of squash ace Joshna Chinappa and rifle shooter Mehuli Ghosh that athletes needed greater support throughout their journey.
Deepa Malik, India’s first female medallist in the Paralympic Games, and double Paralympic champion Devendra Jhajharia represented para sports. Deepa felt a gathering such as Trailblazers would create a better ecosystem in Indian sports.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra, whose personal best is 89.94 metres set in Stockholm last June, commented on the national obsession of him reaching the 90-metre mark in an Asian Games year. "Hopefully, this year I will put an end to the 90-meter question," he stated.
Trailblazers was more than just an ensemble of star athletes. It provided a platform for stakeholders to have free-flowing discussions and talk about improving Indian sports.
Anju Bobby George, World Athletics Championships long jump bronze medallist in 2003, said the discussions would be good study material for the next generations, while women's field hockey captain Rani Rampal spoke of women’s empowerment through sport and enjoyed sharing some on-field and off-field stories with fellow athletes.
RevSportz, which presented “Trailblazers”, promised to come back with the second edition next year before the Paris Olympics.
(Article submitted by Rahul Mukherji)
