Pune: Parental support is crucial for every sportsperson to excel, but it shouldn’t become an interference said former India cricketer Chandrakant Borde
Padma Bhushan awardee and former chairman of the National cricket selection committee, Mr. Borde was speaking at a function organized by the Maharashtriya Mandal at the Sakal Lalit Kalaghar, Mukundnagar on Sunday wherein he was felicitated with this year’s Shivrampant Damle Award, which is presented by the Maharashtriya Mandal to individuals with remarkable achievements in the fields of sports, education, and society.
Speaking on the occasion, Borde said he has observed in the recent past that parents have been encouraging their children to take up sports. “It is a positive trend; However, parents should not confuse their children’s performance in sports with their talent. Even if your child’s performance is good, you should leave it to the selection committee to decide whether he can be not only a good player but also a good team player. The experts analyze how a player performs, who he plays against and in what conditions he can perform. The player’s position in the team depends on how fit he is for the team.”
Mr. Borde, who turned 89 this July, has been one of the most prolific names from Maharashtra in the field of cricket. He has represented India in 55 Test matches and played in 251 first-class matches, taking 331 wickets and more than 12,000 runs. He has also served as the manager of the Indian cricket team in the past.
Borde also highlighted the contribution of Maharashtriya Mandal and the Damle family towards society. “Damle family has contributed immensely to the society ever since the Maharashtriya Mandal was established in 1924. Rohan Damle, the youngest leader in the family is a passionate sportsperson and a man with vision. Next year, the family and their efforts will complete 100 years of their service to the society. Currently, at the speed with which our lifestyle and the game are changing, it is important for the society and the country to understand, that sports need to be promoted in the way Maharashtriya Mandal does,”said Mr. Borde.
Chandrakant Borde was felicitated at the hands of the Founder-Chairman of Praj Industries, also known as the Ethanol Man of India, Dr. Pramod Chaudhari. President of Maharashtriya Mandal and Rt. Air Marshal Bhushan Gokhale, General Secretary of Maharashtriya Mandal, Rohan Damle and others were present on the occasion. This is the 26th year of the award, which includes a cash prize of Rs 25,000/-
