With 100 days to go to the Olympics in Tokyo, India has made ambitious target of taking its medal tally to a “double digit”.
India, despite being the world’s second most populous nation, had its best Olympics show in London 2012 where it won six medals.
“As a large nation, India should play a greater role in the entire Olympic movement, and one of the things through which we can do it is by winning more medals,” sports minister Kiren Rijuju told a webinar. “Our share of Olympic medals must increase. We need to set a national record in Tokyo Olympics. India must cross double digits. We’ll look after every need of the athletes, they just need to perform,” he added.
The Sports Minister wanted the Tokyo Olympic to be “memorable”. “It’s the athletes who’d ensure that the Tokyo Olympic becomes one of the most cherished Olympics for India,” Rijiju said.
Indian Olympic Association president Narinder Batra too shared the minister’s optimism. “We at IOA are very much confident that in the Tokyo Olympics, we’ll better all our records and finish with double digit medals,” said Batra, who also heads the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Rijuju said that India’s Olympic preparations in the past had not always been ideal but his ministry would ensure athletes could make the most of their remaining 100 days of practice.
“In earlier Olympics, there were complaints of some shortcoming or the other. But we’ve ensured it’s not the case this time around,” he said, adding: “The ministry has provided everything that is required and will continue to do so. It’s now time for the athletes to deliver.”