Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday urged India’s athletics squad for Tokyo Olympics to enjoy the pressure and not be bogged down by it during the Games as he joined the national federation in giving them an online send-off.
In the virtual event, Tendulkar told them to chase the dream of winning an Olympic medal relentlessly.
“A lot of people say there is win or loss in sport but my message is that the loss should be for your opponent and the win for you. You should go for the medal,” Tendulkar said.
“Don’t stop chasing your dream and the dream should be the medal around your neck, National Anthem playing and the tri-colour flying high.”
The track and field contingent will have 47 members, including 26 athletes. There will be 11 coaches, eight support staff, one team doctor and one team leader.
The AFI has named a 26-member team and the contingent leaves for Tokyo on July 23.
Tendulkar said pressure is an athlete’s companion in all sports and it is crucial to channelise it into a better performance.
“Expectation of people has grown because of your improved performance. That is a good thing. I had always enjoyed pressure or expectation from the people. You have to change it to positive energy.”
Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, on whom the country is pinning its hopes to win a medal, agreed with Tendulkar that expectations from the country’s athletes have increased because of their good performance.
“The country has expectations from us because we have produced better performance. We will do our best and try to meet the expectations by winning medal,” Chopra said.
AFI President Adille Sumariwalla also hoped that the athletics team can win the elusive Olympic medal this time.