The London Olympics proved to be a watershed in Olympic Gold Quest’s history with a chunk of the country’s medal winners being backed by the organization. Though OGQ has kept a low profile it has successfully managed to attract funds and provide best facility to India’s Olympic medal hopefuls.
The non-profit organization which has Geet Sethi, Prakash Padukone, Viswanathan Anand and Leander Paes as its directors may soon have another colossal sports figure on board.
Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar has been approached and the master batsman is likely to join them in the near future. “We’ve discussed this with him. He is one of the greatest sportsmen of our country and will add good value to the team,” said Sethi, OGQ co-founder, here on Tuesday.
He expressed satisfaction at the way OGQ has progressed. “We’ve grown in the manner we wanted. I think we’re receiving good funding and most of our existing funders are very happy with us and are continuing support till 2016 and 2020. It goes to show that there is sentiment and emotions involved in Indian Olympic sports. Ours is a small team but is massively dedicated and a competent one.”
Meanwhile, the cue-sports maestro believes the time is apt for India to host the Indian Open Snooker Ranking tournament (Oct 14-18 in New Delhi) as both Pankaj Advani and Aditya Mehta have emerged as challengers in the pro circuit.
“The most heartening thing about the Indian Open is the timing because both Pankaj and Aditya have matured as top level snooker professionals.
“We never had this kind of professional snooker players with capability, calibre and pedigree. There was Om Agrawal (world billiards champion and pro snooker player) and Yasin Merchant before, but these guys are reaching the quarter-finals of a ranking event.”
The five time pro-billiards champion and thrice IBSF world champion is gearing up for the upcoming World Billiards Championships in Leeds, the only tournament he will take part in this year.
“This entire year this is the only championship I am playing. I am playing more to keep myself motivated, more to keep myself coordinated. I can still make a 500-break. I can see that my coordination in terms of eyesight is going down, so I don’t believe I am a favourite. I am playing to keep myself associated with the sport.”