Xtra Time Web Desk: Ever since Narinder Batra took over as the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in 2017, the national sports scenario in the country has seen a radical change. According to Mr Batra, the Indian contingent for the Tokyo Olympics will be best prepared and the nation can hope for more glory from the athletes participating in the quadrennial event. Talking at a virtual show hosted by the Bengal Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the IOA President touched on an array of questions ranging from the preparations, mindsets of business houses, medal prospects and so forth. Here are the excerpts:
Business houses should come forward in supporting Olympic sport:
Lot of business houses like GoSports, JSW, OGQ have taken good initiatives in recent years. We need support from business houses. My only request to them will be to go into depth and start tapping talents from grass roots level. There will be lot of people supporting an elite athlete. Key is to pick up the athlete from an age of 12 and 15 and groom him/her up to the national level.
Chances of Manpreet and co:
Our hockey team has been performing consistently over the last three years. And for us to compete with the best teams in the world like Holland, Belgium, Australia, Argentina, Germany, we have the best side. Our men’s team has beaten each one of them in the last three years. Fitness wise both the mens and women’s team are the fittest in the country. They are diet conscious as well. Based on their performances I can see them doing well. I don’t see the men’s team should have any problem in making it to the top four. As far as women team is concerned, I think they can surprise many by claiming a top six spot.
We are not here to go on foreign tours:
It’s not a challenge. That’s the way I work. People like it or not. If you are doing your work honestly there will be opposition. If there are 40 members in IOA, 10 will always oppose you. We are not here to go on foreign tours. I have to go to Tokyo since I am the President of IOA. The people who are interested should come forward.
Difficulties due to the pandemic:
Since I took over in 2017 and since then I have seen it’s been a continuous build up for the Tokyo Olympics. We did have difficult times when COVID-19 pandemic started, almost two years this problem has been going on. We did have very difficult times in April and May 2020. Things again started shaping up since June 2020 onwards.
PM Narendra Modi’s views:
Honourable Prime Minister has said that we should not put any pressure on the athletes. I do hope the athletes come back with a lot of glory. IOA has been monitoring the progress of each and every athlete over the last three years. Last three or four years we had the best of relations with the national sports federations, Sports Authority of India and Ministry. I think the result of which the preparations have been smooth in the lead up to the Games.
Medal prospects:
As far as medal prospects are concerned, India will be competing in 88 medal positions. We have 79 quota places in 18 sports disciplines. In boxing there are as many 9 who have qualified which has never happened in the past. First time an athlete will be competing in fencing. There will two swimmers who have made it to the A category. These are the results of some consistent performances.
Inconveniences on arrival in Tokyo:
Important issues brought to my notice from Chef De Mission meeting on July 9. I have heard athletes have to wait for 4 hrs, before the immigration process to begin and they waited for three hours to board the transport. No food and no water were also provided. The Japanese Government has strict health protocols in place. We have to accept the Law of the Land. The athletes have to undergo three days hard quarantine on reaching Tokyo.
Road map for future:
You may not see overnight results but the beginning will definitely made in Tokyo. We are already setting our sights to Paris and LA. We have been targeting talents at age groups 15, 17 and 18 and putting them in academies. They are already being prepared for various disciplines to prepare for the 2024 & 2028 Games.