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Gilchrist urges Indians to continue studying in Australia

June 10, 2009 16:14 IST

The violent attacks on Indian students have not ended despite the massive furore Down Under but Adam Gilchrist insists Australia remains open to overseas students and a majority of universities are safe for them.

Former wicketkeeper and captain of the Indian Premier League 2009 champions Deccan Chargers, Gilchrist said overseas students should continue coming to Australia.

"For the past two years, I have been representing the University of Wollongong in Australia as its ambassador with Indian students and alumni," Gilchrist said.

"Wollongong is a place that is very multicultural and welcoming to a wide range of international students including Indian students. And I believe Wollongong is representative of Australia's openness to international students in general," Gilchrist said.

Indian students have been at the receiving end of violent attacks, allegedly racist, in the past few months.

The attacks have infuriated the community which has been protesting ever since one of the assaulted students slipped into coma.

Gilchrist, however, says his campus interactions with Indian students suggest they don't feel unsafe studying in Australia.

"I have spent time on the University of Wollongong campus walking around and meeting Indian students – all of them loved studying and living in Wollongong. I believe it's a great option for international students," he said.

"In cricket, Australia and India have enjoyed a long history of great sportsmanship and camaraderie -- I personally still love touring India --and I think this reflects the scene overall between India and Australia," Gilchrist added.

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