Satyamev Jayate focusses on how sports changes and inspires lives

Amir Khan

Sport can be inspiring, good for health, learn important values such as teamwork and skills such as quick decision-making. But most importantly, sport can be a lot of fun.

Amir Khan wanted to show the country through his first episode of the third season of Satyamev Jayate, that sport could bring about positive changes in a human being. The episode title ‘A ball can change the world’, talks about sports helping in rehabilitation of criminals and an opportunity for the people with lower economical backgrounds to make a career through sports. The episode told inspiring and interesting stories of people who bettered their lives because of sports.

Akhilesh Paul from Nagpur, went from a juveline delinquent to teaching football to young children. A simple game earned Paul respect from the society, but mainly it helped him earn respect from his own. In 2010, he also captained India at the Homeless World Cup.

Gold medal winning wrestlers Geeta Kumari and Babita Kumari took the sport up after constant encouragement from their father. The sisters said that they completed their father’s wish of winning gold medals in wrestling. “If a woman can be India’s prime minister, there was no reason why she couldn’t be a wrestler,” the sisters’ father said.

A family of wrestlers shared the most heart touching story of a nine-year-old boy. Shubham Jaglan used to help the family by delivering milk in his village. He practiced golf in the fields and learned most of his shots from YouTube videos. He has been World Junior Champion and has won over 120 titles so far. Now the boy has the support of golfer Amit Luthra, which will help him achieve great laurels at an international stage.

Indain badminton star Saina Nehwal also made an appearance to share her story with the audience.

Host of the show, Amir Khan spoke about the importance of children going out of the house and playing sports instead of staying indoors and engrossed with video games. ”It is so disturbing that they have forgotten how to play under harsh elements. Outdoor sports are also about socialising and realising the importance of team play. Besides, look at the violence in digital games,” Khan said.

“It's so sad to see the younger generation getting addicted to the video games. Schools are also to be blamed. Tell me, which school treats sports as an integral part of mainstream education?" he asked.

Satyamev Jayate airs on Star Plus, every Sunday at 11am.