India needs to change its outlook to sports to win more Olympic medals: Aamir Khan

As his movie 'Dangal', where he plays a wrestler shapes up in the studios, Aamir Khan attended a panel discussion where he talked in detail about sports and its condition in India. Multiple personalities, including Pullela Gopichand, have expressed their view that India needs a fundamental change in the way we view sports, and Aamir echoed that sentiment.

Aamir also praised the efforts of the Indian athletes at Rio despite the disappointing show at the end. The star put the root of the problem elsewhere and said, “I don't blame the athletes at all. They are giving their all. If we want to see Olympic medals and world-class athletes, then we have to change the way each one of us thinks about sports.”

Aamir also went on to talk about his personal experiences and how school sports shaped his life much more than the regular subjects he learned. “In schools, sports are not a part of the curriculum. My parents never asked how I did in PT. They asked me how I did in my subject. So, as a child you are telling me that this (sports) is not important. All that I learnt in school, History, Geography, Algebra, nothing has come of use in my life. But what I learnt in sports has been useful,” reported PTI.

Aamir also added, “Sports teaches you hard work, team spirit and builds your concentration, you learn how to take defeat. Whatever I am today, sports has had a huge contribution. My focus, the way I have applied that, the passion I bring to my work - all that has come from sports. So, I think as a nation we have to think differently about sports.”