The Sultan movie hero, who is IOA-s Goodwill Ambassador for the Rio Olympics alongwith music legend AR Rahman advised the athletes to return from the Games as late as possible
Indian athletes (sitting, left to right) gymnast Dipa Karmakar, wrestlers Babita Kumari, and Vinesh Phogat, TT player Manika Batra with Sania Mirza (standing), actor Salman Khan, Sports Minister Vijay Goel and music composer AR Rahman (to Sanias right) du
New Delhi: Indian Olympics Association president N Ramachandran is expecting the 121-strong Indian contingent travelling for next month-s Rio Olympics to return with at least 10 medals, if not more.
Also view photos: Salman Khan, AR Rahman give Indian athletes Rio sendoff
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Indian athletes sitting, left to right gymnast Dipa Karmakar, wrestlers Babita Kumari, and Vinesh Phogat, TT player Manika Batra with Sania Mirza standing, actor Salman Khan, Sports Minister Vijay Goel and music composer AR Rahman to Sania’s right during a send-off ceremony in New Delhi yesterday. Pic/PTI
"Look, there is no point putting pressure on the athletes, because if you do that then it always becomes difficult for the sportsperson to perform to his or her potential. But I am confident that the medal tally will be in double digits this time," Ramachandran told mid-day yesterday moments after the IOA-s official send-off ceremony for the Rio Olympics-bound Indian contingent. India had returned with its richest medal haul – six – from the London 2012 Games.
Bollywood actor Salman Khan had the crowd in splits at the IOA-s official send-off ceremony for the Rio Olympics-bound Indian contingent. The Sultan movie hero, who is IOA-s Goodwill Ambassador for the Rio Olympics alongwith music legend AR Rahman advised the athletes to return from the Games as late as possible.
"Tum jaa rahey ho, Rio. Lekin jitna late ho sakey, utna late waapas aana you are going to Rio but please ensure you try and come back as late as possible." The hidden message being that the longer the athletes remain in the competition; the better is their medal prospects. Point noted, even as the crowd cracked up.
176 officials for 121 athletes was ridiculous
While the Olympics is the ultimate destination for an athlete, for some officials, it-s no more than another exotic travel destination, at the tax payers- expense. According to an IOA official, who did not wish to be named, almost 200 officials wanted to accompany the 100-plus Rio-bound contingent.
"To be exact, 176 officials wanted to accompany the 121-string Rio athletes group. We found it ridiculous. When we went through the list, it was evident that some names had ulterior motives behind their Rio travel plans. Thankfully, good sense prevailed and eventually only around 50 or so officials have been granted permission to travel with the squad," said the official.
Women power at Rio
For the first time, India will be sending over 100 athletes to the Olympics Games — 121 to be precise and significantly, almost half the squad comprises women. "We are very proud to announce that there are 54 women in our Rio Olympics squad. Among these, while there are some established individual athletes, it is also for the first time in 36 years that our women-s hockey team has qualified for the Games. We are extremely proud of this achievement," IOA general secretary Rajeev Mehta said at yesterday-s send-off ceremony for the Rio Olympics-bound Indian contingent here. A top-five finish for the Indian women-s hockey team at the Hockey World League ensured they returned to the Olympic stage, which they last graced way back in 1980 in Moscow.
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