The Hindu : Sport / Basketball : Pau Gasol charms school kids

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 28, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Basketball

Pau Gasol charms school kids

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: At seven feet, Pau Gasol, towered over everyone, and won the hearts of all the school kids, as he dunked with effortless ease on the cemented basketball court here on Friday.

At the Delhi Public School campus on Mathura Road, it was an experience to remember for dozens of young basketball players, as Gasol, a star of the Los Angeles Lakers, charmed the kids with his highly polished game and ease of expression.

The gleaming trophy of the NBA champion — Lakers won it the last two times — that has travelled with Gasol to India, doubled the happiness of the kids.

Big impact

Admitting that he enjoyed doing such clinics, the 30-year-old Spaniard, a member of the Spanish team that won the silver behind the US in the Olympics in Beijing, Gasol observed that it left a huge impact on the youngsters when they interacted with the top players at a personal and physical level.

Gasol has done his bit, visiting South Africa, Angola, Ethiopia, apart from Spain and the US for such clinics.

He said that he was happy with his experience in India, and was impressed with the enthusiasm of the kids that he had seen both in Mumbai and in Delhi.

Keen about his visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra as part of his plans, Gasol said that he was looking forward to the campaign continuing in China.

Gasol was as enthusiastic in answering the kids, as he was sincere in fielding the questions from the media. He was quick to say that Michael Jordan was his icon, not just as a basketball player, but as the best athlete.

The amiable Gasol said that he had quite a few favourite players in Barcelona, and was not a ‘hateful person' to dislike any team like Madrid or any player for that matter.

“It is good for the sport if we have many good teams, playing a tight game,'' he remarked.

He also had a simple message for the kids.

''Enjoy doing what you love to do. If you like basketball great, but any other game is fine, as long as it makes you happy.

“Never forget your education. Always listen to your parents, and follow their experience. Dedicate yourself to pursuing your dreams,'' Gasol said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport