Parents’ support must to excel in sports: Shreyashi

PATNA: The state government has been developing sports infrastructure and the upcoming international stadium and a sports university at Rajgir will help the athletes of Bihar significantly, ace shooter and Jamui MLA Shreyashi Singh said on Tuesday.

She was speaking at a webinar organized by Press Information Bureau and Regional Outreach Bureau, Patna, on ‘Tokyo Olympics and India’. She also mentioned the central government’s flagship schemes like Khelo India and National Talents Search, which are providing much needed support to the sportspersons.

“The upcoming sports university and an international stadium at Rajgir will be a milestone for all the sports aspirants of the state,” she said.

Shreyashi, an Arjuna awardee and gold medallist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and a silver medallist in women’s double trap event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, said budding athletes need support and motivation from parents and families to move forward. “In Bihar, there is no shortage of talent. But what they need is a proper platform to showcase their talent. People have to start playing to realise their potential. Winning and losing is always there, but what matters the most is a person’s participation in sports,” Shreyashi said.

“The government encourages athletes to come forward and pursue their sports. Khelo India Yojana and National Talent Search are some of the schemes that are working really well and have motivated our athletes. The state and central governments provide sports quotas and sponsorships to athletes and also offer them employment,” she added.

Experienced professionals from other sports also participated in the webinar. “This Olympics season has many new things for India. Not only it is the biggest Indian contingent on the Olympic battlefield, but also has the first Indian woman swimmer in Maana Patel. The Indian swimmers have qualified in standard ‘A’. I am positive that this team would perform very well. We hope for at least 13 medals,” said Prabhakar Nandan Prasad, vice-president of the Swimming Federation of India.

Shams Tauheed, technical chairman of Bihar Athletics Association, said the country has high hopes from Tajinderpal Singh Toor, a shot putter.

Yogesh, a hockey coach, said the Indian team is young, but does not lack experience. “Some of the players are extremely experienced. One of the best goalkeepers in the world is from India,” he said.


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