New Delhi: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) today admitted that they are hopeful of Indian Contingent putting up a good show at the London Olympics Games and other international competitions to happen this year.
“We are hopeful that our medal tally in this year’s Olympics will better than the 2008 Beijing Olympiad where we had bagged three medals,” said the Acting IOA President Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra.
India is likely to take part in 15-disciplines-subject to the qualifications- Aquatics, Athletics, Archery, Boxing, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Shooting, Rowing, Sailing, Table Tennis, Tennis, Weightlifting and Wrestling.
Prof. Malhotra said the IOA has asked the concerned sports federations to specifically find out the requirements of the sports persons who have qualified and are likely to qualify for the Olympics and try to provide them the coaching and training facilities.
He said since the qualification of sports persons(in individual as well as team events)is based on unified criteria laid down by the respective International Federations, hence the selection is transparent and without any bias.
Prof. Malhotra admitted that not all the qualified sportspersons are medal aspirants, because some of them may make the cut just reaching the minimum qualifying standard but still there are many disciplines where India will be a stake holder.
He said the IOA’s assessment of more medals this time is based on the performance of sportspersons in various international competitions and Olympic qualifiers.
Prof. Malhotra said he shares the concerns of the hockey fans.”I fervently hope that our hockey teams (men and women) will make it to London. I was also deeply disappointed when we failed to qualify for Beijing Olympics last time. I hope this time our teams will win the Olympic qualifiers to be held next month here”
He said he was hopeful that more shooters, archers and boxers will qualify to fill up the remaining slots.”It is a very good sign for the Indian sports that now International sporting fraternity is looking at sports persons from our country with respect and awe.
IOA is committed to provide all possible help to the sportspersons who have and will qualify for the Olympics “There is going to be no lack of funds for them so I hope this time the sportspersons will bring more good news for the countrymen”.
He said that is up to the concerned federations to inform IOA about the facilities their qualified sportspersons require and “we will do our best to provide those facilities to the players. Lack of funds or facilities are not going to be excuses anymore”
So far 25 sports persons have qualified for the Games. The qualifiers are:
Archery (4): Jayant Talukdar, Deepika Kumari, L.Bombayala Devi and Chekrovolu Swuro.
Aquatics (2): Virdhawal Khade, Sandeep Sejwal.
Athletics(7): Babu Bhai, Gurmeet Singh (20 KM Walk), Vikas Gowda (Discus), Om Prakash (Shot Put), Myookha Jony (Triple Jump), Tintu Luka (800m), Krishna Poonia(Discus).
Boxing: (4) Devendro Laishram(46-49Kg), Jai Bhagwan (60 kg), Manoj Kumar(64 Kg), Vikas Krishan (69kg).
Shooting(8) Abhinav Bindra, Ronjon Sodhi, Sanjeev Rajput, Vijay Kumar, Gagan Narang, Hari Om Singh, Rahi Sarnobat, Anuraj Singh.
By ISN News Network