Kamal Haasan advocates need for promoting sports culture to build a healthy nation

Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan on Tuesday said that India could become a world super power only when it excelled in sports.

Speaking at a function organised by Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI) to distribute excellence in sports awards here, he said that sports was not just meant to experiment the endurance level of sports persons but also a symbol of a nation’s health. It was also a symbol of strength and happiness of its people. It could showcase the world the inner strength of the nation.

Strongly advocating the need for promoting sports in a big way in the country, Mr. Kamal Haasan said that sports could teach much needed skills to face the real time challenges in life. Success and failure might be main aspects of the sport. But, it taught not only to handle the opponents to conquer success in the competition but also taught numerous life skills. “Education is a part of life. But the most important part of life is health. It is the sport that translates to health. Hence, it is important to nurture sports in our day to day life,” Mr. Kamal Haasan said.

Highlighting the importance of concerted efforts to inculcate sports culture among the people, the actor-turned-politician said that India could become a super power in the world only when it excelled in all forms of sports and it reflected the valour of the citizens of the country. The State government under the leadership of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin had taken a number of steps to produce world class athletes so as to excel in the Olympics.

Mr. Kamal Haasan said he had a number of teachers, who taught many aspects of life, cinema and others. Former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, lyricist Kannadasan and late veteran actor Sivaji Ganesan were among the long list. He learnt, when he was young, the nuances of the Tamil language by reading, writing and dialogue delivery.

Minister for School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said that health was the foundation of life. It was imperative to spend quality time in taking part in sports. Learning sports from the tender age could also open up a career opportunity. Hence, the sports culture should be promoted from the young age of the school children. 

EoM