Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia and women's hockey skipper Suraj Lata Devi are all set to make history, albeit not on the field but on the ramp.
The nimble-footed soccer star and the gutsy mid-fielder will turn models to promote "Indian linen" made out of bamboo in a fashion show at a city hotel at New Delhi on Monday.
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The effort, according to event managers Percept Profiles, is part of the ongoing World Bamboo Congress and aimed at promoting the plant for employment generation, eradication of poverty and social upliftment.
"Most of the sportspersons walking the ramp are from the north-eastern states where bamboo is found in abundance," Percept's Sunil Kalra said on Sunday.
"So they have chosen to create awareness about the unique fabric made out of bamboo shoot. Creating awareness in India would mean generating employment and poverty alleviations in the north-eastern states," he added.
For Suraj Lata Devi, tomorrow could see the beginning of a new era for Indian women's hockey which is desperately waiting to get its share of limelight.
"Besides highlighting the usage of bamboo, I want to send a signal through this show," Suraj Lata said at New Delhi just after her arrival from Manipur.
"Our performance has not got us what we deserve and probably shows like this can help us in our endeavour. It can also highlight the face of Indian women's hockey," Suraj Lata said.
The hockey player, who was recently appointed the brand ambassador of the World Bamboo Congress along with men's hockey star Dhanraj Pillay, said the fashion show would help promote bamboo as a useful plant in the country.
"It is a part of the daily life in north-eastern states including Manipur. We are very closely associated with bamboo. So this show can help the people of the country in knowing the plant and its usage better," she said.
Suraj Lata who led India to title wins in the Afro-Asian Games and the Asia Cup, admitted that she was a little nervous for tomorrow's show.
"It is totally different from hockey. When you play you concentrate on the game and are unaware of thousands of people watching you. But tomorrow it will be an altogether different experience," she said.
But Kalra said expert help has been sought to make the players ramp-savvy.
"They will have a practice session in the morning tomorrow where they will be trained how to go for it," he said.
At present, the Indian bamboo industry at Rs 2,043 crore is far behind than that of China which is estimated to be around Rs 26,000 crore.
If the industry registers a steady growth in India in coming years, it is expected to overtake China as the market leader by 2015.
