'I hope Tokyo 2020 will be a good platform for India to have a best-ever Olympic performance but we have limitations. However, there is nothing stopping us from 2024 Paris and specially the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics which is more than eight years away,' said Kiren Rijiju
New Delhi: With Japan’s capital Tokyo set to host next year’s Olympics, Union minister Kiren Rijiju is hoping for best-ever medal tally from India.
“Tokyo is an immediate target with the existing talent. We cannot create champions overnight. It's not possible to create world champions in a year or two. We have to ensure that the entire infrastructure is in place,” Rijiju said.
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“Having said that, we have certain existing talents at our disposal and we have to make the best of it. I hope Tokyo 2020 will be a good platform for India to have a best-ever Olympic performance but we have limitations. However, there is nothing stopping us from 2024 Paris and specially the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics which is more than eight years away,” he added.
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Speaking at FICCI's "Turf 2019" Global Sports Summit on Wednesday (December 11), he said, “If we can't prepare ourselves for something that far (2028 Los Angeles Olympics) then we have to blame ourselves in terms of policymaking, setting a direction and channelising the resources.”
Sports Minister addressing the gathering at 9th Global Sports Summit - 2019. pic.twitter.com/CsTHVVpyEh
— Dept of Sports MYAS (@IndiaSports)“With the time which is in our hand we must ensure that India is no more a country which is not taken seriously in the Olympics. I will definitely not be satisfied as a sports minister of the country if we don't win medals,” he said.
Rijiju also emphasised on the need to do well at international sporting events.
“As a young nation, we can't afford to lag behind in the international level of competition — be it the Olympics, Asian Games or any of the world championships.
“We are a young nation that's why we have to set an ambitious target. In the meeting with IOA (national Olympic body) and NSFs (sports federations), I had given them a very ambitious target. It's not easy but not impossible either," he said.
India's ranking in sports is rising. Most of the results are best ever. India is breaking the barrier: Mr , Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C), Govt of India, at 9th Global Sports Summit – . pic.twitter.com/p86qVkFGJA
— FICCI (@ficci_india)“We are rising. In the last six months, our ranking and performance has increased. Most of the results I've calculated are the best-ever,” he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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