Softball has existed in India for over 5 decades, but most sports enthusiasts have virtually no knowledge about this sport. It’s a sport that is not given the attention by mainstream media, it’s participants are not recognized for their achievements, despite having won medals and the government doesn’t give it the importance it deserves, despite being an Olympic sport.
In this exclusive interview with SPOGO, we’re learning more about the enigma that is Softball in India with Shiv Chhatrapati Award winner Dr. Pradeep Talvelkar JT, Senior Secretary of Softball Association of India & General Secretary of Maharashtra State Softball Association about the origins of the sport, promoting softball at the grassroots, overcoming challenges, the various tournaments organized by the association and it’s future goals.
Q 1) Could you share some insights about the origins of the sport in our country and how it has grown over the years?
Softball began in India in 1967. Since then, this sport is played in all states right from the school to university level. Approximately 22 to 25 states participate in every national tournament of softball and the participants include boys, girls, men and women.
Q 2) What is the Softball Association of India doing to promote the sport, especially at the grassroot level?
All the states are promoting softball at the grassroot level, in the schools and villages. The promotion of this sport is bearing fruits today and the results are showing. We run a pony program. Pony means to protect our nation's youth and we are targeting kids from the age of 7 to 15 at the grassroots level. We are organizing the coaching camps as well as national level tournaments and providing them opportunities at International level such as tournaments like Asia-Pacific & American School Baseball Softball tournament. We are focusing on underprivileged areas where the kids won't get any chance to play or fulfill their dreams. Currently, our major is in Some areas of Himachal Pradesh & Andhra Pradesh. In Nagpur city, we are planning a Softball slum star project on an experimental basis. We will provide them with a free coaching program as well as opportunities to play at national and international level for the overall progress of slum players. We will also try to provide them free education with the help of government schemes or NGO's. We have many future development projects and look forward to implementing them after this pandemic.
Q 3) What are the different challenges that the association faces in terms of promotion, sponsorship, infrastructure for softball in India? How does the Softball Association of India overcome those challenges?
Softball is played at the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the World Championships but the central and state government does not give much attention to it. As per the central government, Softball is a ‘C’ category sport despite the fact that there are sports that are not in the Olympics which are in the ‘A’ and ‘B’ categories. We are corresponding with the Ministry and we will know it’s results very soon.
Q 4) What are the various tournaments organized by the Softball Association of India? What sort of response does the association receive for these tournaments?
I'm happy to share that India has organised three Asian Championships so far, one of which was organised at Madras in Tamil Nadu, followed by a Junior Asian Championships in Aurangabad, Maharashtra and another Asian Championship in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. I'm proud that I am from Maharashtra and the fact that the Maharashtra Association organized two out of three of these events. The federation also organises U10, U12, U15, U19 and senior category tournaments for both Men and Women every year and at least 22-25 states participate in these tournaments.
Q 5) Do you think it is a realistic possibility for Softball to get a permanent place in the Olympics and will the Indian softball team one day not just reach the Olympics? What needs to be done to make that possible?
India has bagged 3 medals in Asian Championships so far with a silver medal in 1998, a third place at the 4th Asain men's championship at Vashi and recently a Bronze medal at U17 tournament in Kuala Lumpur. In the next few years, we really hope the Indian team will at least win a silver medal at Asian level. As far as the Olympics is concerned, the sport is actually included in the Olympics, but the Central Sports Ministry doesn't provide the association with any cooperation and tends to ignore the Sport. We are winning medals at junior levels but if we receive government support then our Indian team can definitely qualify for the Olympics in the next 4-5 years.
Q 6) What are the goals and aspirations of the Softball Association of India in the future? How do they plan to achieve them?
Softball Association of India President – Mrs. Neetal Narang, Gen. Secretary Mr. L.R.Maurya , CEO. Dr. Pravin Anaokar and all the members of the Association are working day in and day out to develop the game of Softball in India. They are contacting all the relevant authorities at top levels and are planning to recruit international level coaches to train the children. Sunny Sultan from Singapore had come to India for 15 days and trained coaches who came for the coaching camp. We are also trying to hold as many tournaments as we can for younger children, because if we get more participation from them then they can continue for the next 10-15 years.
