Interview with Tarun Singh Chauhan, Advisor, Wonder Cement - "We will be back next year for season 2"

The Wonder Cement #Saath7 Cricket Mahotsav drew to a close on Sunday as MSG Club picked up the winner’s trophy in a tournament that saw participation from 4,000 teams across 33 districts and 9,894 villages in Rajasthan. The competition was a massive success and captured the imagination of the people, who came out in large numbers to enjoy the cricket and cheer on the participants.

We at Sportskeeda had the privilege of interacting with Mr. Tarun Singh Chauhan, who is a management advisor at Wonder Cement Ltd. He spoke at length about the cricketing festival and its impact in an exclusive interview.

What inspired you to take up such an innovative initiative?

With #Saath7, we wanted to create a unique intellectual property and something that we as a company could own. Besides that, we want to become a part of every Rajasthani’s daily life and become the state’s biggest brand – all of which we could do with such a competition. We have successfully engaged people in a healthy activity and made Wonder Cement a name on everyone’s lips.

The event saw teams from remote villages take part and compete for top places. How important was the involvement of the rural people of Rajasthan?

This tournament was initiated keeping the consumer in mind and to involve people from all over the state. The best way to do so was through cricket and we have been able to draw in people from all walks of life, something that is truly remarkable.

What was the biggest challenge that you faced while organizing a tournament at such a large scale?

According to me, the biggest challenge we faced was to create an atmosphere of enjoyment and participation-for-all, instead of making it a solely competitive event. We wanted to create a memorable experience for each and every player involved and ensure that winning and losing was secondary for everyone who participated.

What has been the most memorable moment for you in the entire journey?

I think it has to be the 65-year old captain of a women’s team! It was a great moment and I was truly inspired by seeing her passion and love for the game. It is something that should be celebrated by everyone and it is a huge positive that we will take from the tournament.

Will we see a #Saath7 Season 2?

For sure! Next year, we plan to conduct the next edition which will be even bigger and better than this one. January is the perfect time to organize such events and 2017 will surely see #Saath7 return for Season 2.