Corporates ready to back sports: SAI

BANGALORE: India’s triumph at the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament may finally help the sport bag some big corporate sponsorships.

According to Sports Authority of India (SAI) director general Desh Deepak Verma, no time frame has been fixed but in all likelihood, hockey will be a major beneficiary of corporate munificence if the team continues to perform well. Basketball and tennis are the other two sports which have also attracted the attention of corporate houses.

“A few corporate houses have expressed their willingness to adopt hockey, basketball and tennis. There are others who want to help but do not know where to go,” Verma said after giving cash awards of Rs 1.5 lakh each to the hockey players at SAI, South Centre, here on Sunday. “We will urge the corporate houses to take up games which have the potential. Archery is a good example where these firms can make a difference. Players in these games are generally from a poor background and they need support.”

Verma said they would involve corporate houses in sports which already have sponsors. “Hockey may have sponsors but there is nothing that stops others from rewarding the players.”

Another major policy decision mandates better use of foreign coaches. “Till now foreign coaches were tied down to one team. From now on, they will share their expertise with the age group and women’s teams too,” Verma said.