Tokyo Olympics 2020: India to send over 150 players, targets to win 20 medals

NEW DELHI: As Japan goes ahead with its plans to conduct Tokyo Summer Olympics 2020 as scheduled in July-August despite the specter of coronavirus CoVid19 looms large, optimistic India too plans to send its biggest ever contingent of players of over 150 this time.

Riding high on the optimistic note, India also expects to make it BIG this time in terms of medals tally and break all records with about 20 medals.

However, though, India has been able to win only 28 medals so far in 31 editions of summer games.

In the 2016 Olympics, India had sent 121 players who contested in archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, hockey men and women, golf, gymnastics, judo, rowing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weight lifting, and wrestling games.

The outcome was two medals only — silver for PV Sindhu in badminton and bronze for Sakshi Malik in wrestling.

Dr. Prem Chand Verma, Deputy Chef de Mission of Team India for the Tokyo Olympics 2020, who will be accompanying the contingent, has a reason to harbor a collective attitude of optimism.

“Not only, our players have qualified in most of the disciplines, and we will be sending the biggest contingent this time to Tokyo Summer Olympics with over 150 players/athletes widening our chances of making it bib this time, the atmospheric conditions in Tokyo will also favor us. We expect to win record 20 medals this time,” said Dr. Verma.

Dr. Verma also happens to be the Member, Standing Committee, Olympic Council of India, and Co-Chairman of Indian Olympic Association Preparation Committee for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games besides the Working President of Table Tennis Federation of India.

“The challenge in Tokyo Olympics being discussed in Japan by the environmentalist is that the atmospheric temperature this time too might cross 40 degrees Celsius as was the case last year too. It is apprehended that the athletes from mild environments like Europe and northern hemispheres might feel the heat for the games, which are played in the open ground such as athletics, marathon, long and high jump, hockey, football, etc.,” said Dr. Verma.

While asserting that the hot atmosphere will work in favor of Indian players who are already used to such conditions, Dr. Verma said the most significant issue would be acclimatization for the players coming from mild weather conditions.

“This situation will enhance the prospects of our players more this time besides being bigger in numbers. We already have qualified in archery and athletics in NOC quota as per international ranking in equestrians men, hockey men, and women, shooting, wrestling. Total we have got for 29 athletes. But total qualified so far is 62, and qualification rounds are going on. Boxing qualification round stand postponed, and all rounds will be over by April end. Finally, we hope to send approximately 150 players, other than the contingent of coaches, physical trainers, etc.,” said Dr. Verma.

On the most significant contingent this time for Olympics, he said that India’s number of players participating in Asian, Commonwealth, and Olympics was growing every four years because India was being represented in every discipline at the global level.

For this, Dr. Verma gave full credit to the Indian government’s pro-sports schemes and campaigns launched in the last few years.

“This is the outcome of the government’s ultra-high supportive policies like Khelo India campaign where you hunt talent at the grass-root level. Intensive camps are organized, players from each discipline are selected, and they get full financial and logistic support from the government, and players are encouraged to concentrate on their discipline fully,” he added.

Dr. Verma said IOC played a pivotal role as it’s the apex agency at par with international rules and regulations to administer and supervise sports at the international level. Federations also play essential roles, organize events, provide tech supports, arrange camps, and are also responsible for selection, training, making travel arrangements, etc.

“The government of India finances not all international events, some events and camps are financed by federations also. Though the government funds federations also but largely they are self-dependent, and raise funds from sponsorships, advertising, etc.”

Dr. Verma said ever since Dr. Narinder Dhruv Batra has taken over the reins of IOA, the players never came across problems. “Despite being a successful entrepreneur, Dr. Batra owns full passion, and is deeply involved in sports full time, and sports is in his blood. He gives motivation to young players, new energy, and gets all logistic supports; teams are cleared on time, finances arranged on time, players who excelled at the international level are supported financially also,” he added.

Dr. Batra is the first Indian President of the International Hockey Federation and also the selected Member of Executive Committee of International Olympic Council. Other Member being the famous entrepreneur Nita Ambani.