Bangalore: City-based non-profit GoSports Foundation on Wednesday hosted a first-of-its-kind Athletes' Conclave at ITC Windsor in Bangalore, where notable senior athletes and other eminent personalities shared their experiences and knowledge with aspiring Olympians and Paralympians on sports performance and career related topics. Aiming to provide a platform that enables interaction, information and inspiration, the GoSports Foundation Athletes' Conclave 2013 played host to top junior and elite Indian athletes across multiple sporting disciplines.
"Victory is more than winning. Victory is never giving up, never losing sight of my goal. Victory is knowing that I will do whatever it takes to reach there" said Olympic Gold Medalist, Abhinav Bindra, as he flagged off the GoSports Foundation Athletes' Conclave to an audience of 83 athletes, from across the country, across 12 sports, including Swimming, Table Tennis, Cycling, Golf and Tennis, amongst others.
Talking about his Olympic journey, sharing his challenges and experiences in an honest conversation with the athletes, Bindra reassured each of the aspiring Olympians in the room that they all must cultivate the hunger for victory and that hunger will fuel their abilities to be champions.
In a day that also encompassed sessions by Johan John from Nike, legendary coach Pullela Gopichand, senior journalist Sharda Ugra, nutritionist Ryan Fernando and sports lawyer Nandan Kamath, the athletes were educated on topics ranging from communication skills required to deal with the media, choosing the right sports equipment and dealing with the nutritional requirements of sport.
Sports journalist Sharda Ugra said "I hope that the athletes take as much as they can from these multiple sessions, leaving this room with information that will inspire and educate them." Ugra had earlier in the day delivered a session educating the young athletes on the need for their co-existence with the media fraternity nationally and globally.
GoSports Foundation Athlete and Golfer Chikkarangappa was quick to point out that it was the first time that he had seen so many athletes from multiple sports under the same roof. He said, "I believe that with so many of us here, it is not only a chance for us to learn from the pros, but also a unique opportunity for us to learn from each other", a thought that was shared by fellow Foundation Athlete and Paralympian Sharath Gayakwad. Gayakwad added, "The event provided us information on how the legends lived and achieved success; insights that I believe help us with a better understanding of being a sportsman. I also appreciated all the information that the experts shared as this will help us become better athletes."
As the day progressed, the athletes were treated to an honest and insightful sharing by former All England Badminton Champion and legendary coach Pullela Gopichand, who urged every athlete to stay focused on being a champion. "Don't look for the faults, the bad luck or the negatives. Look at dreaming of being a champion continuously. Always stay in the dream and focus on the dream while giving everything you do a hundred percent." said the ace shuttler who drew references from his own personal journey through his many losses, injuries and defeats.
A premier event, the GoSports Foundation Athletes' Conclave, was an engaging and educative session aimed at informing and inspiring the aspiring Olympians. "We are delighted and grateful to have so many experts share their time and expertise so willingly in pursuit of a common goal. We had conceived this event keeping in mind our core belief that sporting champions are created when the right talent gets the right support at the right time. The small steps we have taken today through the GoSports Foundation Athletes' Conclave will contribute to the future of our nation's Olympic dreams tomorrow." said Nandan Kamath, the Managing Trustee of the GoSports Foundation.
