American Baseball Hall of Famer on India trip

Washington: America`s Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin and Olympian Natasha Watley are on a week-long trip to India as sports envoys as part of the Obama Administration`s broader objective to encourage youth participation in sports.

Working with Major League Baseball and USA Softball, this trip marks the State Department`s first joint sports programme. During India trip from February 12 to 18, Larkin and Whatley will travel to New Delhi and Imphal to lead baseball and softball clinics for underserved youth and their coaches, as well as engage in dialogue on sports and diversity, the State Department said. In both cities, the sports envoys will meet with officials from the Indian Baseball and Softball Associations as well as representatives from NGOs that promote youth sports opportunities. Throughout the exchange, they will speak with local media about how sports encourage in the development of good sportsmanship, leadership, and teamwork skills, the State Department said. Sports diplomacy builds on the US Department of State`s efforts to create opportunities for young people so that they can share experiences and foster greater international cooperation. SportsUnited, part of the US Department of State`s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is dedicated to sports diplomacy. PTI