Tennis legend Andre Agassi on Tuesday said that sports should not be taken away from education and that it teaches children "solving the problems".
Agassi was discussing the future of sports and education as a foundation for excellence at the TiE Global Summit 2024 in Bengaluru.
"Even when you have a failure, you have to get up and play again the next day. So what sports is teaching you is that focusing on winning and losing really is a distraction from what we need to be thinking about. We need to be thinking about how to get better, he said.
Agassi, who has been investing in education for the "disadvantaged" since 2001, said he has helped construct 130 schools for close to 80,000 kids in the United States—a feat he attributes to his pushing himself to stay ahead of challenges.
He attributes his ability to stay on course—and course-correct when needed—to his grueling tennis career.
"Sports is all about problem-solving. Tennis taught me how to navigate a very intense environment and maintain my objectivity and problem-solving abilities. It forces me to be present, but also to understand the context of what I’m doing," Agassi said.
Speaking about his rebellious phase, Agassi said it was something he had to go through to reach where he is today.
"Vulnerability is necessary for growth, and I think vulnerability eventually leads to humility," he added.
The session, Marathon Mindset, also featured Aakash Chaudhry, Co-Founder and Chief Mentor of Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL), who spoke about the future of EdTech in India.
Agassi concurred that technology in education would play a huge role in filling the sizeable gap in personalized learning every child deserves. He cited this is among the reasons he invested in the Indian EdTech firm, Square Panda.
"I believe that technology could play a very fundamental role in scalability but also optimise personalized learning. That's why I got involved with Square Panda. We are here because of the sheer scale of impact the technology will bring to education," he said.
The tennis legend mentioned that he has been traveling frequently to India at least two to three times a year over the last few years to understand the ground realities. He hopes to make an impact in English language learning in India in the near future.
"If a child can be merely conversational in English in India, it can bring about generational change. What I hope to do is provide a vehicle for that scale and growth in literacy and English as a second language here," Agassi added.
The TiE Global Summit 2024, which is being touted as the largest entrepreneurial gathering with over 10,000 delegates, is being held in Bengaluru till December 11 and in Mysuru on December 12.
The event is organized by TiE Bangalore, with Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) as the strategic partner, and supported by Department of Electronics, IT & BT, Government of Karnataka and co-hosted by MeitY, MeitY Startup Hub, India AI Mission, and Software Technology Parks of India (STPI).
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