KOLKATA, April 14 (IANS): Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday donated Rs.4 lakh to help the cash-strapped Indian ice hockey team in their quest for participation in the 2015 Challenge Cup of Asia in Kuwait.
The ice hockey team is faced with a financial crisis going into the tournament and has resorted to crowd funding in a bid to collect money for participation in the tournament.
Gambhir said he heard of the team's plight on radio and decided to donate the amount through his charitable trust - Gautam Gambhir Foundation (GGF).
"I felt it is a moral responsibility to support the game of ice hockey, it is a disgrace that in a country like India where sports have so much support these games are neglected. As a sportsman I believe I should always support smaller games,� Gambhir told reporters at the event where he gave away the cheque to the Indian team.
The ice hockey team's captain, Ladakh-born Tsewang Gyaltson, said he was overwhelmed by the support and hopes to do well in the coming championship.
�First time we have had so much support, good to know a game like ice hockey is being recognised. We are practicing really hard and are hopeful of doing well in the Challenge Cup,� said Gyaltson on Tuesday.
Talking about the hurdles he had to face while taking up ice hockey as a career, the 23-year-old said: �They tried to stop me from playing the game. They said there is no future and told me to concentrate on my studies, but I was adamant and I continued playing the game I loved.�
