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Harmanpreet Kaur
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Monday approved the inclusion of cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Games. This marks a significant milestone as cricket is set to make a comeback in the major international multi-sport after an absence of over a century. Cricket was last played at the Olympics in Paris in 1900, meaning the sport would make its first appearance in 128 years.
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The news comes as a joy for the entire cricketing fraternity and especially for the Indians. Reacting to the much-awaited moment, India women's team captain Harmanpreet Kaur said the entire team is excited and looking forward to a dominant campaign like they had in the 2023 Asian Games.
"We all are excited from the moment we got to know that we can be a part of the Olympics too. All the members of the team are looking forward to it. We will perform the same way we performed in the Asian Games," Kaur said in an interview with Olympic Khel, the official Indian account for the Olympic Games.
Notably, both men's and women's teams secured gold medals in the recently concluded Asian Games in Hangzhou. Kaur and her troop defeated Sri Lanka in the final by 19 runs to script history on Chinese soil. On the other hand, the men's final was abandoned due to rain, but due to their high ranking, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Co. were awarded the gold. They defeated Bangladesh by 9 wickets in the semi-finals.
How the Virat Kohli factor played a key role in inclusion of cricket in the Olympics?
Niccolo Campriani, president of the LA Local Organising Committee (LALOG), hinted at how Virat Kohli played a key role in the inclusion of cricket in the marquee event. The former India captain has a massive fan following across the globe and he recently became the first Indian to hit 250 million followers on Instagram.
"We all recognise the critical importance of a strong digital presence in order to keep the games relevant for the youth. And cricket is offering a unique platform to do so. Think [about] my friend here Virat. He's the third-most followed athlete in the world on social media with 314 million followers. That's more than LeBron James, Tom Brady and Tiger Woods combined. This is the ultimate win-win for LA 28," Campriani said.
"The IOC and the cricket community as cricket will be showcased on a global stage to grow beyond the traditional cricket countries, while the Olympic movement gains access to previously untapped communities of athletes and fans. It's a great example of how one can reach the other," he added.