The new superstars

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They’re young, at the top of their game and extremely photogenic. Yet, you won’t find their faces plastered over every hoarding and bus-stop or speaking to you from your television screen. Perhaps that’s because they’ve chosen to excel in sports other than the Great Indian Obsession, cricket. But they’ve got a dedicated set of fans, and their charisma makes them a shoo-in for the glamour club. Sports’ new superstars simply need a suitable marquee.

Aditya Mehta, 27, snooker champion
India’s number one cueist and world number 66 (the highest ranking an Indian snooker player has managed in two decades) Aditya Mehta had yet another moment of glory when he was crowned Asian Snooker Champion at Doha last year. He was only the third Indian to win the title.
For this Arjuna awardee, who shuttles between Mumbai and England, this was the high point of a journey that began when he was six. “I played many sports, but never felt the bond that I did with snooker. Its etiquette and class attracted me. Snooker is a gentleman’s game, and I felt it matched my personality,” says Aditya.
The sport also allowed Aditya to spend more time with his father, his first coach. “He was my pillar of strength. Dad ensured that I had access to the best coaches and facilities.”
Access to good training, when you play on the demanding professional circuit, comes at a price. Aditya estimates that spending nine months of the year in England, his training, living and touring costs spiral up to `25 lakh a year.
“The demands of our sport require many of us to base ourselves abroad. That creates financial pressure and funding has always been a challenge when it comes to sports other than cricket in India,” he says.
Aditya adds that for upcoming sportspersons , covering all costs isn’t easy. “Sponsors look for television visibility, which all sports do not have much of yet. I hope they will be more supportive and help a sportsperson build his/her career.”

Subrata Paul 26, footballer
This Bengali lad began playing football at the age of 10. “But I never thought that football would be something I’d take up professionally, or represent my country in. It was just another game I loved to play,” says the painfully shy goalkeeper of the Indian national football team.
Subrata began his career with the iconic Mohun Bagan club, later moving to East Bengal, then Pune FC and Prayag United.
As more people tune into English Premier League and Champions League matches, interest in home games and clubs has also grown. “It’ll be great if more foreign players were to come down here, because there’s so much we can learn from them,” he says.
Subrata has been to Germany last year, courtesy a tie-up with Red Bull, and says the experience was wonderful. “Apart from Red Bull, I don’t have any other sponsors or endorsements,” he says, adding enthusiastically, “But if I were to get an offer for a television appearance or an ad film, I’d love to take it up.”
In the post-2012 Olympics scenario, Subrata believes that sports other than cricket are finally gaining some recognition, but there’s a long way to go. “Kabaddi, hockey — these are supposed to be our national sports, but cricket’s where we put our money,” he points out. “Not that I have anything against cricket… but look at our football team, we’ve been doing so well.”
On the subject of his own achievements, he’s modest and shrugs off the attention his rugged looks garner. “I just love to play football. I don’t understand the rest of it. I’m happily married,” he smiles. “I came from a very poor family — sometimes we didn’t get two square meals a day, but somehow, I knew that if I worked hard, I would make it to the top.”

Tania Sachdev, 26, chess grandmaster

She’s an international master and women’s grandmaster, but Tania Sachdev has her sights set higher. Her slight frame and chatty manner make her seem like any regular Delhi girl, but there’s a determined quality to her as she declares, “I want to make it to the world top 10 in the women’s rankings. There’s a long way to go.”
Tania won her first international chess title at the age of eight, and was playing for India in the under-10 category. The incessant travelling and training entailed cutting down on time with family, missing school. Tania says, “When I realised how much I loved the game, it became easier. The game gives you so much back that everything you sacrifice seems worth it.” And then, Tania found that she thrived amid the competition.
The game’s profile has improved over the years. “It was really hard when I started out, there were not many coaches. Today, kids as young as nine are trained by grandmasters.”
One of the things in need of attention is the prize fund for tournaments. “It’s nowhere close to being on par with the rest of the world,” Tania admits.
Chess will always be her priority, says Tania, despite having walked the ramp for designers like Ashima and Leena. “I’m very open to such opportunities, they keep things exciting. But my focus will always be on my game.”

Dipika Pallikal 22, squash player

On court or off, this Chennai-born squash player is a sensation. Her appearance in a strapless black gown by Riddhi and Siddhi Mapxencar at a red carpet event last year invited as much comment as her breaking into the top 10 in the world rankings for squash — a feat hitherto unachieved by any Indian woman. In 2013, Dipika snapped up the Meadowood Pharmacy Open title in February. But winning is second nature to Dipika, who was bestowed an Arjuna Award at the age of 20. Dipika’s on the verge of doing a major endorsement for UltraTech Cement and has previously appeared at events for Gilette and Herbalife. “I love doing brand endorsements because they take up only a day or two. To me, it’s the power of my sport, to have got the endorsement,” Dipika says.
She admits that squash is an expensive game and around `8 lakh a year is needed for training and tournaments. She laughs, “I thank God for my sponsors. It makes life on the circuit so much lighter and happier!”