Kolkata (West Bengal) [India]: Former Indian tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi emphasized the need for India to host the Olympics, suggesting it could be either in 2036 or 2046. He also discussed the challenges that non-cricket sports face in India due to limited financial resources and infrastructure.
Bhupathi was speaking at the Trailblazers 3.0 Conclave organized by RevSportz in Kolkata. During his address, he stated:
“We must host the Olympics, be it in 2036 or 2046.”
India has already expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics. On October 1 last year, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) formally submitted a ‘Letter of Intent’ to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Future Host Commission, indicating its aspiration to organize the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Challenges for Non-Cricket Sports in India
Addressing the disparities in funding between cricket and other sports, Bhupathi pointed out the significant role of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in promoting cricket at the grassroots level.
“The BCCI filters down the money to the under-14 level, to the districts and villages. The BCCI is a private organisation. It has the money. But other sports cannot do that,” Bhupathi remarked.
Rising Tennis Talent: Maaya Rajeshwaran
Bhupathi also spoke about Maaya Rajeshwaran, a promising young tennis player who has already secured six International Tennis Federation (ITF) singles titles at the age of 15. He highlighted the need for a broader pool of talent in India, comparing it to countries like Spain.
“Tennis is a big world and we are talking about just one Maaya. In Spain, for example, they have 30-40 Maayas,” he said.
Support from Other Sports Personalities
Saurav Ghosal, India’s squash ace, echoed Bhupathi’s sentiment about hosting the Olympics, stressing the importance of creating a strong impetus for sports development in the country.
“It is important to create that impetus,” Ghosal said.
Meanwhile, former All England champion and India’s badminton chief coach Pullela Gopichand reflected on the lessons learned from the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, where India won 101 medals.
“We did not have the infrastructure then. It is much better now,” Gopichand noted, suggesting that India’s sports infrastructure has significantly improved over the years.
Focus on Multi-Medal Sports
Adille Sumariwalla, Vice-President of World Athletics, emphasized the importance of focusing on sports that offer multiple medal opportunities to maximize India’s success in international competitions.
“We must focus on sports that have multiple medal opportunities,” he asserted.
The discussions at the conclave highlighted the need for systematic funding, grassroots development, and improved infrastructure to support a wide range of sports in India. The call to host the Olympics reflects a growing ambition to transform India’s sporting landscape and achieve global success beyond cricket.