India’s sports Ambassador

Who should be India’s global sports Ambassador?

Many would say – Hey this is an easy one !! Sachin Tendulkar of-course
Some might also say Major Dhyanchand. P.T. Usha will also be a consideration.

Before you also start rattling “ Kapil Dev”, “Sunil Gavaskar” …., please go back and check the text again. I mentioned “GLOBAL” sports Ambassador.
A global ambassador should be someone with whom the world audience can relate to. How many can relate with a cricketer or Hockey Player? Maybe 1.5 billion people across the world. That’s hardly an 20% of the world’s population. That’s not Global.

You would be surprised to know that the Indian sportsperson who has exposure in most number of countries is someone many of us haven’t heard of.

Well, so you know its not Sania Mirza – the whole country knows her. If not for her game, then for her controversies.
Can it be Saina Nehwal? Naah – its too early for her rise so high in the world popularity charts. Besides, who plays Badminton in North America !!!

Still guessing , let me spoil the surprise…
It is Jeev Milkha Singh.
Can you faintly remember him? Oh am I talking about the Flying Sikh. Nops, you missed it by a generation. That’s his Dad, Milkha Singh. I am talking Milkha’s son – Jeev Milkha Singh.
But, are you aware which sport does he play. There comes the shocker – he plays Golf!!

Jeev is India’s numero uno Golf player and is ranked 29th in the world.

He has done spectacularly well last year winning 4 tourneys and achieving top 5 positions in another 5. He made a lot of money as well. USD 3.5 Million to be precise.

So what’s the big deal? Dhoni made close to USD 20M in 2008. But how many countries actively follow Cricket. Actually, you can count them on your fingers.

On the contrary, Golf is actively watched and followed by over 85 countries across the globe and this list spans all the 6 continents. Jeev’s tremendous performance in 2008 has made him a brand name across all popular golf playing countries and looking at his form in 2009, this popularity is all set to grow multifold.
Some of his successes in 2008-09

Jeev won Bank Austria GolfOpen in 2008
Jeev won Nagashima Shigeo Invitational Sega Sammy Cup, Golf Nippon Series JT Cup in 2008
Jeev won Barclays Singapore Open in 2008
Jeev signs off 4th at WGC-CA for best major finish in 2009

He won the Bharat Padma Shri Award in 2007.

What I would suggest to you is. If you have a handicapped trivia about this rising star, go to Google and find out most about him. After all you don’t want to get embarrassed in front of your American client when he knows more about Jeev than you !!!