Air India's star cricketers entertain fans on Hangout

BENGALURU: One can like it, or hate it. But there seems to be no way of ignoring the virtual world, especially the social media.
Toeing the line of this trending world, the country's national airlines, Air India has offered its social media fans an opportunity to interact with cricketers VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh, Anjum Chopra and Nikhil Chopra, on a very special Google Plus Hangout.
The airlines, which claims this is the first-of-its-kind initiative by any airline in the country, is making the most of the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup by extending personal invitations to its social media fans to join these stars, who are all its employees.
"This marks the launch of the Air India "Cheer for Champions" campaign on the social media," a spokesperson said, adding that the airline is also active on Twitter and Facebook.
He said that the campaign has reached out to an astounding 3 million people on social media and that the Hangout was viewed live by nearly 1,500 viewers! And, the four players shared interesting anecdotes from their experiences in an informal and chatty 45-minute session.
In its years of service has employed many sports personnel and has as many as 11 Padmashri awardees, 3 Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna winners, 31 Arjuna awardees, 1 Dronacharya and 1 Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar awardees.
The forthcoming World Cup in Australia has Suresh Raina, an Air Indian, in the team. Earlier World Cups have had Air India players M S Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath and Nikhil Chopra representing Team India.

Former India Cricketers Nikhil Chopra (centre), VVS Laxman and Anjum Chopra. (TOI Photo)