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Crowd funding is a challenge for team sports, says Rasquinha
By Tridib Baparnash
Bhubaneswar, Dec 16 (IANS) In the past two Olympics India have won eight medals and the majority of these have come from athletes managed by the non-profit Olympic Gold Quest programme, led by former hockey skipper Viren Rasquinha.
But it hasn’t been an overnight journey for Rasquinha and his team, especially in a diverse country like India where sports wasn’t a voluntary choice until a few years ago when the likes of Saina Nehwal, Mary Kom, Sushil Kumar and P.V. Sindhu started winning Olympic medals.
None of the Olympic medallists come from well-to-do backgrounds and that’s where the challenges of organisations like the OGQ start. And one of the possible solutions these organisations depend on is crowd funding.
Ask Rasquinha about the challenges involved in crowd funding and the former India centre-half counts a number of obstacles involved in the process.
“Crowd funding mainly comes from donations from individuals and corporates but it’s much easier to get crowd funding for pressing needs like building toilets, but when it comes to sports the job gets tougher,” Rasquinha said during an interaction at the SJFI’s inaugural Young Reporters Programme here on Sunday.
“The challenges mainly revolve around conceptualisation, marketing, budget and the time constraint involved in it. In India, crowd funding is more subtle unlike in foreign countries.”
Elaborating on the subject further, Rasquinha said crowd funding is easier for individual sports but it isn’t a good idea for team sports.
“From our experience when India’s ranking in a team sport is over No.100 and want to rise to No.20, it is a long and tedious process. Crowd funding for team sports isn’t a very good idea as the process needs to be more specific and involve short term goals,” he said.
(Tridib Baparnash can be contacted at [email protected])
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.