How India is Preparing for the Tokyo Olympics 2020?


How India is Preparing for the Tokyo Olympics 2020?

India’s best medal haul so far happened at 2012 London Olympics and over the last two Olympics, the performances have been improved a lot. In the past, India has did well at hockey, wrestling, boxing, badminton, and shooting. Last outing, India won two medals i.e. silver for PV Sindhu in badminton and Sakshi Malik’s bronze in wrestling.

Commenting on the country’s preparations, Kiren Rijiju, Sports Minister, says, “We can’t go to the Olympics hoping to win only one or two medals. That is why the preparation for Tokyo is in full swing. Now we are improving on both fronts. We are creating the best possible environment for our sportspersons. All these have made a tremendous impact. Look at our hockey team — both men and women. They are beating the world’s number one team”. [source: Economic Times]

So far, over 63 athletes have received a quota for next year’s showpiece event in Japan and more are expected to book their place. Kiren Rijiju’s ministry has a mission at hand, but eyes on the coming events at Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028. However, several athletes have suggested the extension of Olympic qualification period amid coronavirus outbreak.

However, 2008 gold medallist Abhinav Bindra feels that Indian shooting contingent is stronger than ever for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Pointing out Indian shooters’ chances at the Olympics, Bindra says, “Never have we ever gone to an Olympics with such bright chances. We have 15 athletes and each one of them, who have qualified, is capable of winning a medal. It's a very young team so it's very hard to predict performance. However, they have already shown that they have what it takes to win at the highest level. That is all we can do going into the Games and then it boils down to how we perform at that given day. But of course, going into these Games, a lot of Indian shooting athletes have looked capable of winning medals which I think has never happened before”.  [source: IANS]

Indian sportsmen are training hard by attending tours and attending tournaments to get into the right shape before the Olympic games starting at 24th July, Tokyo. Gurjit Kaur, who has been nominated for the Indian Sports Honour for Sports Woman of the Year (team sport), comments, "Our tours and matches are being planned in such a way that we peak at the right time and our performance has been steadily improving”. [source: firstpost]