From political discussions and social gatherings to a brief game of cricket, Prime Minister John Key played a stunning innings in India last fortnight, leaving his hosts in admiration and bringing home goodies that could spell improved performance in trade, commerce, education, tourism and even sports.
He announced a new initiative, offering Sports Scholarships for students from India to undergo courses at its universities and other centres.
The programme also provides for exchange visits of coaches, trainers and students in physical education and medicine.
Mr Key announced the Programme at the Feroz Shah Khotla Grounds in New Delhi on June 27.
The initiative, which came as a part of his State Visit to India, received encouraging response in the Capital.
He did not give details of the Scholarship, saying that announcements will be made later in the year.
The Programme envisages close cooperation with high performance sports centres, and sporting bodies in New Zealand.
Deepening links
“India and New Zealand enjoy a very warm relation. We have a long-standing sporting relationship and shared love for cricket and hockey, among other sporting games. The two countries connect with each other well.
“We have therefore decided to provide a few scholarships to aspiring Indian students to come and study sports in New Zealand universities,” Mr Key said, before playing ‘fun’ cricket with Stephen Fleming, former Black Caps Captain and current Coach of Chennai Super Kings.
Deepening education links through sports will benefit the youth from both countries, as they gain from each other’s expertise and skills, he said.
Mr Key said a number of New Zealand Universities and Private Training Establishments offered sports education. Indian students keen on studying sports would be welcome to apply and go through the procedures and join about 11,000 Indian students currently studying in New Zealand, he said.
Mr Key did not forget to felicitate the Indian Cricket team for winning the World Cup in April.
“Congratulations to India for their success in the World Cup. I had the privilege to invite the Indian team to our Parliament last year, during which I met Sachin Tendulkar,” he said.
Experts in Delhi said that New Zealand universities were keen to develop cooperation with India in sports, sports research and related fields.
“Current cooperation in these areas is very limited,” he said.
Widespread support
Chairman of the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee and vice-Chancellor of AUT University Derek McCormick said the proposal has been discussed within his University and with his counterparts at the Lincoln and Otago Universities.
“All of us are supportive of the proposal,” he said.
According to experts, New Zealand cricketing and other sports bodies, as well as India’s high performance sporting organisations will be involved with the new initiative.
“In the first instance, the sports scholarships will be open to nationals of India to study in New Zealand universities. Research and academic cooperation will open to academics from Indian and New Zealand universities, including those working high performance centres,” they said.
Friendly Cricket
Later, wearing leg pads and gloves, Mr Key entered the field to face Fleming’s bowling. He punished his deliveries to the boundary, before being caught in midwicket by one of the young fielders.
Fleming later admitted, “John’s batting was better than my bowling.”
The crowd went into raptures as he displayed some of his skills.
Mr Key was delighted to meet former Indian spinner Bishen Singh Bedi, who walked into the field after a few unpleasant moments with security officials, who said they did not recognise him.
“He was my childhood hero. I loved watching him bowl in New Zealand. I would love to come back to India and enjoy playing Cricket,” Mr Key said.
Among others present at the event were National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, New Zealand High Commissioner Jan Henderson, Deputy High Commissioner Wendy Matthews, Delhi and District Cricket Association Vice-Presidents C K Khanna and Suresh Chopra, General Secretary S P Bansal, Joint Secretaries Ravindra Manchanda, Ravi Jain, Committee Member Rajiv Shukla and students of Asha Foundation, an NGO working with slum children.
