Shah Rukh's balm for Indian hockey

Mar 11, 2008

Kolkata, March 11 (IANS) Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, who essayed the role of an impassioned hockey coach in his recent film "Chak de India", Tuesday said the Indian hockey team would rock again putting behind the recent defeat that saw its door shut for the Olympics for the first time in 80 years.

"In every sport someone has to win and someone has to lose, but the sadness should always be left behind after defeat," he said here at the launch of his Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders.

"The recent defeat of Indian hockey team in the qualifying round of the Olympics has caused a huge amount of sadness amongst all Indians and for many non-Indians also, as we all love hockey.

"In any kind of sports, we cannot always win and we can also lose. I am sure that Indian hockey will rock again," Shah Rukh said.

"We should quickly get over the blame game (over the defeat)," he said.

Referring to Australia's defeat against India in the final in the recently concluded triangular cricket series, he said, "Australia is not finished as a cricket team after this loss."

Asked if he would be interested in promoting other sports like hockey and soccer like he is doing for cricket, King Khan said: "Cricket has become a business in India. If I would be able to make profit out of this I will definitely try to do something for the development of other games, including hockey and soccer."

"I have been a soccer player myself. I have done the movie 'Chak De India' to make people aware of hockey and I will try to make a whole platform for sports," he said.

Shah Rukh came to Kolkata Tuesday to launch his IPL team - Knight Riders.

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Chak De India