Saturday 8 November 2014 12:44, UK
Sachin Tendulkar is backing India to emerge as a hotbed for football in years to come.
Tendulkar – the highest run-scorer in the history of international cricket – is a co-owner of Kerala Blasters FC in the inaugural Indian Super League.
Speaking at a book launch for his autobiography Playing It My Way, at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Friday, the Master Blaster praised India’s attempt to become a prominent international football destination.
“Football is not as big as cricket in India but I see football becoming really big in time to come,” he said.
“Internationally football is really, really big and India has all the potential to make football as big as anywhere else in the world.
“But it’s not going to happen overnight it is going to require a mega-effort from everyone and that’s what we are trying to do (with the Indian Super League) - support all the football players and give them the platform to realise their dreams.
“The response has been really strong and people want to support football and football players in India and make it a big sport.
“There is nothing better than if you score a goal or you’re playing good football and the entire world is appreciating your talent. It’s a great tonic for any sportsman and that’s we want.”
In recent years India has ventured into a number of different sports, staging events like F1 races, the Commonwealth Games and the Hockey World Cup.
Next month, some of the world’s top tennis players including Grand Slam champions Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic visit India when the International Premier Tennis League hits Delhi, live on Sky Sports.
And Tendulkar acknowledges that the sporting landscape in a country traditionally associated with cricket is undergoing a period of transition.
“It is I think because there are various new leagues that have started in India, like football, badminton and kabaddi which is an Indian sport,” he said.
“People are wanting to promote sport and that’s how it should be.”
