Sachin Tendulkar lauded by Lata Mangeshkar, Mithali Raj for ‘right to play’ call

Lata Mangeshkar, Mithali Raj and Leander Paes‏ were among the celebrities who appreciated Tendulkar’s call for transforming India into a sport playing nation on Twitter.

A host of stars from the field of sports and cinema, including legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, Indian women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj and tennis great Leander Paes,‏ took to Twitter to hail cricket great and Rajya Sabha MP Sachin Tendulkar’s call for transforming India from a sport loving nation into a sport playing one.

Sachin Tendulkar, in his video speech on Friday, said it is time for India to move from a ‘sport loving’ nation to a ‘sport playing’ one. He has subsequently been praise many Indian celebrities, most notable among them Lata Mangeshkar, Mithali Raj. (AP)

Tendulkar, who couldn’t speak about his vision on the future of sports in India and ‘right to play’ because of an uproar in the Upper House of the Parliament on Thursday, had shared his thoughts on the same in a YouTube video on Friday. The video, which was posted on his social media accounts, has received nation-wide attention since then.

“We need to transform India from a sport-loving nation to a sport-playing nation, make everyone more active and participative, inculcate and develop a sporting culture in our country,” Tendulkar had said in the video.

Among those who praised the master blaster was legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar. Both Lata and Sachin are known to share a mutual respect for each other and it was quite palpable in their conversation on the micro blogging site.

“Namaskar @sachin_rt .Aap ka khel jitna sundar aur prabhavi tha,utnehi sundar aur sacche aap ke vichar hain.Ishwar aap ko is karya mein bhi yash de,aap hamesha khush rahe,” Lata said in her tweet.

Tendulkar replied to the octogenarian singer, admitting as to how her words have always inspired him. “Aapke shabd padhkar mujhe bahut khushi hui, Lata didi. Khelte waqt, aur aaj bhi apke aashirwad se mujhe hamesha prerna milti hein.”

A highlight of Tendulkar’s speech was his call to let girls pursue their dreams in sports, citing the success stories of boxing great Mary Kom and gymnast Dipa Karmakar and it earned him special praise from Indian women’s cricket team captain, Mithali Raj.

“Oh yes! With you on this @sachin_rt I have always said- pick a sport, stick with it & see what that does to you. I stand with Sachin. Do you?,” Mithali wrote in her post.

The little master acknowledged the support from Indian women’s cricket captain and hoped her success would encourage Indian parents to let their female kids make a career in sports. “Parents must take a clue from you and allow their girl child to take up sports. It’ll do wonders for them. Thanks for your support, @M_Raj03,” Sachin wrote.

Tennis great Leander Paes, renowned singer Shankar Mahadevan, critically acclaimed film director Ashutosh Gowariker, emerging Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif and fellow Mumbaikar Ajinkya Rahane were among others who also took to Twitter to praise Tendulkar’s vision.

Tendulkar had retired from all forms of cricket in November 2013.