Vijender Singh Calls for More Indian Sports Heroes Beyond Cricket

Boxer-turned-politician Vijender Singh emphasizes the need for India to create more sports heroes beyond cricket to inspire future generations and drive a cultural change towards making sports a viable profession. His comments highlight the importance of improving sports infrastructure and supportive systems like the Sports Authority of India.

Boxer-turned-politician Vijender Singh believes that India needs more heroes beyond cricket to inspire the younger generation if the country aims to become a sports superpower by 2047.

He argues that such heroes will drive cultural change, prompting more youth to pursue sports professionally. 'We have to create heroes to change the culture,' said Vijender, now a BJP leader, during an interaction with PTI editors.

On India's goal to become a sports superpower, Vijender pointed out the need for improved sports infrastructure. 'We don't have good infrastructure or stadiums. If we are serious, we need to improve that,' he said. He also emphasized that the change needs to start at the school level, arguing that sports is often seen as mere 'time pass' rather than a career.

Vijender noted that Olympic medallists should receive reception akin to cricketers, and called for stronger support from the Sports Authority of India (SAI). He believes hosting the 2036 Olympics could also inspire the youth to take up sports, citing the success of the 2010 Commonwealth Games as a precedent.