Chatting with Sunil Chhetri
Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri during his last match against Kuwait in the FIFA Qualifier at the Salt Lake Stadium at Kolkata.
| Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy
A sports press conference is a contested zone. There are, in essence, two interested parties: the journalist who is forever on the lookout for a headline-worthy quote or a slip-of-the-tongue statement, and the athlete who is there as the single access point of the team and with the sole aim of controlling the narrative.Equally, it is a place where relationships are built and mutual respect established. Routine appearances at press meets often convey your journalistic seriousness and rigour, and the player in turn starts looking at you as a constructive critic and not an adversary. Land a few minutes early, there may even...