Kolkata, Mar 7 (Reporter) Mahesh Bhupathi, the former World No. 1 doubles tennis player and Grand Slam winner, has given his full endorsement to India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics, asserting that the event is essential for transforming the country’s sporting landscape. Speaking at the RevSportz Trailblazers 3.0 Conclave on Friday, Bhupathi passionately declared, "We must host the Olympics, be it in 2036 or 2046," emphasising that the Games would provide a much-needed impetus for long-term development in Indian sports. Despite acknowledging the challenges India faces in establishing itself as a global sporting power, Bhupathi believes the Olympics could pave the way for a brighter future. "The BCCI filters down the money to the U-14 level; to the districts and villages. The BCCI is a private organisation. It has the money. But other sports can't do that," he explained, highlighting the financial disparity between cricket and other sports. The tennis legend also pointed to Maaya Rajeshwaran, an emerging tennis talent currently training at Rafael Nadal's academy in Spain. Bhupathi emphasized that India needs more players like Maaya to compete at the highest levels. “In Spain, for example, they have 30-40 Maayas,” he said, illustrating the need for greater investment in nurturing sporting talent across disciplines. Bhupathi’s endorsement of India’s Olympic ambitions was echoed by prominent figures in Indian sport, including squash ace Saurav Ghosal, who stressed the importance of creating a sporting momentum in the country. “It’s important to create that impetus,” Ghosal said, further reinforcing the need for infrastructure and investment to support young athletes. Pullela Gopichand, former All England champion and chief coach of the Indian badminton team, reflected on the missed opportunities following the 2010 Commonwealth Games, where India won 107 medals. “We didn’t have the infrastructure then. It’s much better now,” he said, noting that India is now in a stronger position to build on past successes. Adille Sumariwalla, Vice-President of World Athletics, called for a strategic focus on sports with multiple medal opportunities to maximize India’s chances at the Games. “We must focus on sports that have multiple medal opportunities,” he stated. The consensus was clear: India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics represents a significant opportunity to elevate the country’s sporting infrastructure and create lasting change. The session, titled "Are We Olympic Ready?" was moderated by Prantik Mazumdar and Gargi Raut...////...