Western sanctions are not a sentence: India and Russia are at present working out an alternative sports platform under the BRICS umbrella, Dmitry Friedman, the Moscow-based Executive Vice-President of the BRICS International Sports Committee, has told Sputnik in an exclusive interview.
As part of the major initiative, Russian coaches are training Indian judo players in Mumbai, and Russian athletes are participating in a handball tournament being held in the city Jaipur in Rajasthan state. The participants in the competition include seven Russian athletes.
Furthermore, tie-ups have also been inked in sports such as Sambo - Vladimir Putin's favorite sport - as well as handball and basketball.
As part of the major initiative, Russian coaches are training Indian judo players in Mumbai, and Russian athletes are participating in a handball tournament being held in the city Jaipur in Rajasthan state. The participants in the competition include seven Russian athletes.
Furthermore, tie-ups have also been inked in sports such as Sambo - Vladimir Putin's favorite sport - as well as handball and basketball.
It is worth noting that for the first time in India's history, there is a national premier league in handball where Russian players are able to show off their skills and demonstrate their experience.
As regards Judo, one of the Indian judokas trained with Russian coaches in October 2022 and then took part in competitions in Russia, enabling him to win at the local Olympic Games. He was eventually selected for the Indian national team.
"We are organising a judo tournament among the BRICS participants, which will be held in Delhi within terms agreed with the Indian side," Friedman said.
Next month, friendly basketball matches will be played between student men's and women's teams in Karnataka state's Bengaluru city where Russian basketball players would compete alongside their Indian counterparts.
The participants from Russia include the two-time champions of the Belov League, the top basketball league in the country.
India Says 'No' to Politicisation of Sports
These ties-ups in the domain of sports between New Delhi and Moscow are part of Russia's pivot to Asia after Western-dominated global sports organisations such as FIFA, UEFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), among others, banned Russian players from competing in their respective events.
India, on the other hand, has shown no reservations in hosting Russian athletes even in big-ticket competitions.
In March, India hosted the Women's World Boxing Championships in Delhi, welcoming Russian boxers in their national jerseys.
Even their national anthem was played inside the Indira Gandhi Arena when Russia's Anastasiia Demurchian won the gold medal in the light middleweight category.
In March, India hosted the Women's World Boxing Championships in Delhi, welcoming Russian boxers in their national jerseys.
Even their national anthem was played inside the Indira Gandhi Arena when Russia's Anastasiia Demurchian won the gold medal in the light middleweight category.