Did you know: Big B sponsors training of women athletes

The 71-year-old veteran has sponsored women athletes Ayonika Paul and Pooja Ghatkar as part of Medals4India campaign.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who has been associated with eradicating polio in India and has also been praised for his work as a United Nations Ambassador for the Girl Child, has recently announced his decision to sponsor the coaching of two Indian women athletes who will represent the country at global platforms according to IANS.

The 71-year-old veteran has sponsored women athletes Ayonika Paul and Pooja Ghatkar - both rifle shooters - as part of the Medals4India campaign that was initiated by the NGO Olympic Gold Quest. Olympic Gold Quest is a program of the Foundation of Sports and Games, started by Indian sporting icons to identify and support Indian athletes with a proven track record and who have the potential to win Olympic gold medals.

The global Indian cinema icon, who was previously a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for polio eradication, has been playing a part in womens emancipation in India since January 2014. With his decision to collaborate with UN as an ambassador for Girl Child, Bachchan hopes to emulate the success they had with the polio eradication campaign according to the Times of India.

The athletes will be participating in the upcoming Commonwealth Games, World Championships and Asian Games in 2014. The main goal behind the initiative is to help them win at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The funds will help with their training and equipment in preparation for their respective competitions.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2014.

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