All India Radio
India’s Prospects in Rio Olympics
India is sending its largest contingent to Rio Olympics where the events are scheduled to take place from 5-21st August.
The sports minister said that India should be hopeful to get medals in double digit. India’s hopes lies with archery, boxing, badminton, hockey, tennis, table tennis, shooting, gymnastics, wrestling and judo. At the moment, India is sending 120 athletes and it may go up. It includes 32 from men and women hockey teams and 12 from shooting itself. Thus, it’s a big delegation.
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) funds all the participating players. It formulated a rule few years back that all those who are eligible to stay in the Olympic village, will be paid airfare, stay and their daily food. If the athlete finishes its final event on the day, he/she has to leave the village in next 48 hours. The athlete cannot stay till the end of the game.
Prospects of India in Rio 2016
Prospects are very tentative. India is in a position to challenge in a very strong way. Indian shooters, boxers, archers have been at par with world champs and also stand a very good chance in mixed doubles tennis.
- Hockey– Men’s team doing pretty well in recent years. Stood second in Champion’s Trophy after Australia. Performed well in Asian games as well as last Commonwealth Games. After a long time, Indian women hockey team has also qualified in Olympic.
- Badminton– Totally dependent on Saina Nehwal and somewhat P.V.Sindhu. India discusses badminton on any platform because of Saina Nehwal. However, before the match nothing can be said. The performance on the day matters.
- Archery– Doing well with Atanu Dutt, Deepika Kumari, Laxmirani, Bombayla Devi. Again dependent on Deepika Kumari for assured success.
- Wrestling– 8 wrestlers qualified for Olympics. Narsingh Yadav is a good prospect.
- Athletics– Very huge contingent. Includes events like shot put, discus throw, long jump etc. Vikas Gowda is good prospect. Men participating in marathon, 20 km walk and 50 km walk. Women relay has great prospect. (TintuLuka).
After 1980, when PT Usha qualified for 100 mt race, this was the first time when Dutee chand has qualified.
However, if India is sending such huge contingent, it doesn’t mean its chances to win increase. There are different qualifying standards and winning standards.
Visible improvement is that India has now started to discuss about medals. Earlier it used to discuss about participants. This, means that participants have raised their bar in international arena.
Pressure on players?
The government is investing money on players. TOP- Target Olympic Podium scheme was initiated with the objective of identifying and supporting potential medal prospects for 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games. Focused disciplines will be Athletics, Archery, Badminton, Boxing, Wrestling and Shooting. Hence, the athletes will be provided financial assistance for their customized training at Institutes having world class facilities and other necessary support.
High hopes on shooting, tennis and badminton. The surprise element has been in gymnastics with Dipa Karmarkar. India has no history in gymnastics event in Olympics.
The players that are talked about are not hyped but known for their performances in various competitions and have dominated them. Hence, players are well aware of the conditions prevailing for such high-profile event.
The PM has also met the players. This gives a psychological boost that the PM, Ministers and the country is with you. Such encouragement to sports have not known to be happened earlier.
Connecting the dots:
Sports has the ability to challenge the pressing issues like declining sex ratio, excessive importance to rot learning in academics and negligible career in sports. Analyse
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