Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Anurag Thakur was full of praise for Indian golfer Pranavi Urs, describing her Asian Games 2026 gold medal as a landmark moment for the sport in the country. Anurag, the former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), explained why Indian women are outperforming men in multi-sport events and why it is the need of the hour to invest in women’s sports. Speaking to NDTV on the sidelines of the DP World India Championship, Anurag also backed the Indian men’s cricket team to win the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Here’s the transcript of the interview with Anurag Thakur:
Q: But still, every sport requires skill, stamina, strength and the right facilities.
Anurag Thakur: Yes, absolutely. Every sport needs skill, stamina, strength and proper infrastructure. But all I’m trying to say is let’s leave our cricketers to win us the next World Cup. Don’t give them any new ideas right now.
Q: Just the World Cup? What about Olympic gold?
Anurag Thakur: Yes, Olympic gold in 2028 too. But before that, our focus should be on winning the next World Cup in 2027.
Q: Since we’re talking about Pranavi and the rise of women’s sport in India, we’ve seen so many women athletes emerge as champions and win not just medals but gold medals. You’ve invested heavily in women’s sports over the years. Tell us about your perspective on the ecosystem.
Anurag Thakur: I still remember when I started the Women’s Cricket Academy in Himachal Pradesh, where everything was taken care of by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association. Four girls from that academy went on to play for India and represent the country in World Cups. All I can say is that this is the right time to invest in women’s sports. Whether it is science, space or sports, women have excelled in every field. If you look at the Olympics, the previous Asian Games or even the recent Asian Games, women are winning as many, if not more, medals than the men. That’s where the opportunity lies. I believe there is tremendous scope for Indian women athletes to win even more medals for the country.
Q: Having served as a Sports Minister and understanding the Indian sporting ecosystem closely, what is it that makes women athletes outperform the men at the moment?
Anurag Thakur: I think it’s the fire in their belly. They want to achieve something and prove themselves. They are not waiting for someone to hand them a comfortable position or extra facilities. They are ready to work hard and earn success. Of course, we must provide them with coaching, skills and facilities. But ultimately, it depends on how much effort an athlete is willing to put in. That’s what I see in these girls. They are determined and committed to succeeding.
Q: One last question. What will it take for India to produce more athletes like Pranavi Urs and Khushi Mohit, and for them to go all the way from silver to gold? What does the ecosystem need?
Anurag Thakur: I believe every golf course in India should provide free coaching and equipment to at least 20 young players who cannot afford the sport. Ten boys and ten girls, completely free of cost. If every golf course commits to that, it will help create the next generation of golfers. It will bring more youngsters into the sport and increase competition. We also need more tournaments and competitive opportunities, like the initiatives being taken by the IGPL and the work being done by the IGU.
Q: Thank you very much.
Anurag Thakur: Thank you.