Cricket is no longer the only sport which is worshipped by people in the country. Giving the sport strict competition, football, golf, tennis, badminton and many more have started getting the attention they deserve. In an attempt to highlight another sport — Baseball, a number of youngsters from the city have got together to organise a baseball league! In conversation with the members of the Caspian Nation, we get to know more about the American sport, the struggles that the team faces, and more.
The national sport of the United States, seems to be garnering interest in the city off late with schools and colleges showing interest in the sport. “It is definitely difficult to get people involved in the sport. I don’t remember the number of times I have been asked if baseball even exists in India,” says Naveen Kumar, an engineer. “Most people are only familiar with baseball because of the bat, which is used extensively in popular culture. Little do they know that a number of moves in cricket, like the way in which the ball is thrown, has been taken from baseball. In fact, cricketers even use the baseball glove in practice sessions, but don’t promote the sport at all which is the sad part,” says Naveen who coaches students of JNC and Carmel school in the sport and is all set for the league.
The second edition of the Karnataka baseball league is all set to take place this weekend and enthusiasts are excited. “For the first time in India, players got auctioned and were paid to play the sport which is a huge encouragement to players,” says Ajit J S, a seasoned baseball player. “When I started playing baseball sixteen years ago, my parents didn’t know what baseball was. But at that time, baseball games were aired quite often on sports channels. Today, it’s the sport is alien to the current generation in our country because the only sports that are aired are cricket, football and golf. Baseball and softball is hardly given the importance it deserves,” adds Ajit.
Taking matters into their own hands, the baseball club is trying to promote the sport at the grassroot level in the city. “People need a change from cricket which is comparatively slower. Baseball is very quick and aggressive. It seems like the right time to get youngsters involved in the sport. We have teamed up with around eight schools in the city to start coaching lessons in baseball to get them involved and encourage the sport,” says Sankrith K V, the founder of the club. “It’s just a daunting task because it doesn’t get any coverage as we are a cricket obsessed nation. I see the scene changing though. Last year, there were around hundred participants,” he says in conclusion.
