Setting bigger goals

Swati Rai

 Delhi-based Hemant Sharma, Geetika Bahl and Arpit Gupta all of 24, started the Legends Cup, a corporate football league, with an aim to promote the sport in 2013. It was conceptualised and put into action as the Federation Cup and had 16 teams then from the corporate sector’s giant firms like Google, HCL, Ernst&Young, Genpact and TCS among others. In the last two years, a lot has changed, including the name of the tournament. It is now known as the Legends Cup and has seen participation from over 150 companies. 

Growing steadily each year, 36 teams from the capital — that’s 1,200 corporate employees — will compete for the cup this year. The founders will soon take the endeavour to the national level, with teams from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai participating in it.

The member teams are charged a nominal fee to ensure that the sports’ facilities for them are spot-on. Renting the best football fields in the city, refreshments and maintaining an online sports profile are some of the services provided to the players. 

Ask Hemant Sharma, co-founder of the venture about why did they choose football over other sports? He answers, “We wanted to promote football in a cricket-loving world of ours and personally all three of us love football.” He adds that though people in India love to watch the game, but when it comes to playing it, they back out! 

The trio gradually plans to move on to other sports as well. “Cricket still rules the hearts of sports lovers. But through the Legends Cup, we hope to get people interested in other sports as well.” 

 The initiative is also helping people stay fit. As Hemant says, “There are so many people in the corporate sector who don’t get to play good tournaments but would love to do so.  Also, most of the people do not get time to pursue a strict fitness regime. This is an easy way to do so, while promoting a sport!”

The tournament has social media presence as well, which allows players to follow and rate other players and teams. The procedure helps maintain rankings. They give credit to the corporate community and their respective families for supporting the sport. Positive about the future of the Legends Cup, Sharma says, “All three of us see ourselves following this dream and doing a lot more.”

  As of now, they are in the process of taking the Legends Cup to the national level. Mumbai and Bengaluru will host the tournament as well. Hope the team hits the goal!