The Hindu : Sport : Joshna first beneficiary of Lakshmi Mittal's initiative

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 09, 2005

Sport

Sport - Sports : General

Joshna first beneficiary of Lakshmi Mittal's initiative

Special Correspondent

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

NOBLE INITIATIVE: Mahesh Bhupathi, Joshna Chinappa, Aviation Minister Mr. Praful Patel and Lakshmi Mittal at the press conference.

Mumbai: London based steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, the third richest man in the world after Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, announced the institution of a Rs. 40 crore `Mittal Champions Trust' here on Tuesday. Young squash star Joshna Chinappa, who was present at the launch of the trust, is the first beneficiary of this initiative.

The 54-year-old Mittal's ambition is to assist young, talented and ambitious sportspersons win medals at the 2012 Summer Olympiad in his home town of London or even before that at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010, the Olympic Games at Beijing in 2008 and also major international events.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Mittal said, "I went to Athens to see the Olympics last year and was excited by the performances, but was disappointed to see India languishing at the bottom. When Lithuania can win medals why not India?

"There are many districts in India and I am sure there's plenty of talent to be tapped there. Someone like M.S. Dhoni has emerged from Jharakand. I hope more Indian corporates would start similar initiatives to support Indian sports. We will do our best, train athletes in India or abroad in order to achieve excellence in sports," said Mr. Mittal.

Nine-time doubles Grand Slam winner Mahesh Bhupathi met Mr. Mittal at the All England Tennis Club last June as a result of which the trust modalities were completed with a catch phrase, "India's first trust dedicated to win medals and prestige for Indian sport".

Advisory board

An advisory board consisting of former All England badminton champion P. Gopichand, athletics coach Bobby George and F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan has been constituted. They will spot talent in the age group of 10-12, 13-17 and 17 and above, advise on training and travel schedules and groom them. Bhupathi's Globosport will manage the select sportspersons — initially 10.

"There is no age limit. If someone has the potential to win medals at 26 or 27 we will support him or her," said Bhupathi.

Congratulating Mr. Mittal, the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Mr. Praful Patel, said cricket has received maximum patronage in independent India and was happy that Mr. Mittal had decided to support sportspersons.

"He's the third richest man in the world. I hope he becomes the richest man so that he will be able to support sports in India in a much bigger way."

India's cricket captain Rahul Dravid is one of the trustees on the board, apart from Messrs. L.N. Mittal, Aditya Mittal (L.N. Mittal's son), Amit Bhatia (son-in-law) and Mahesh Bhupathi. "We will get a different perspective from Rahul, that's why he's in the trustee board," said Mr. Mittal.

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