Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, minister of information and broadcasting, believes the present Indian contingent has what it takes to multiply the six medals they bagged in the 2012 london Olympics this time around.
“last time there were six medals, so this time I think the numbers would definitely increase, as the contingent is also very big,” said Rathore during the formation of a representative body of Olympians in India (OAI) on Monday. “The sources they are provided with are also very good. The aspiration level and the will power are also increasing. The numbers would increase,” he added.
However, he did not specify any fixed numbers of medals he is hopeful of. “Slowly we are moving towards success , to announce a particular number of medals would be very difficult though,” said the man who rose to fame after winning the silver medal in men’s double trap at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
With over 100 athletes travelling to Rio from India, the 46-year-old also advised them to stay away from unnecessary hype. “We have very well trained athletes, the only point which I can probably pass on to them is that Olympics is a lot of mental sport because it comes once in four years and there is an immense amount of hype associated with it and the event. Therefore they should be able to cut off all the unnecessary hype and if they are able to do that I am sure they will win.”
Being a shooter himself, Rathore believes India’s recent trend of winning medals in shooting at Olympics will continue. “In shooting luckily I can say that in the last three Olympics we have been winning medals. Therefore a certain trend has been set in, certain standard has been raised, obviously with the medals coming in, the resources are also coming in. Therefore it’s a perfect environment for the shooting medals to continue and so is the case in some of the other events also. “
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Indian team of Rio Olympics and Rathore only had good words about him. “Undoubtedly every athlete looks for an icon and look for people who can emulate them in the terms of hard work and the Prime Minister is one such person who is untiringly working for the country and these are the examples which athletes can take in their career.”
london Olympics bronze medallist and five-time world champion MC Mary Kom, who failed to qualify for the upcoming Games, said, “I especially came for this event to support the athletes. Very less number of boxers this time (only three amateur boxers have qualified for Rio) but we will support them wholeheartedly.”
Sports Minister Jitendra Singh hoped “a history of sorts” will be created at the Rio Olympics. “It is difficult to say how many medals we can win but I can say it will be in double digit for the first time in history of Indian sports. I feel a history of sorts will be created in Rio,” Singh, who took charge of the ministry recently, said.