With an unprecedented 102 athletes qualifying for the Rio Games, the Indian Olympic Association on Wednesday was hopeful the squad would bag up to 15 medals at the multi-sport event this August.
With an unprecedented 102 athletes qualifying for the Rio Games, the Indian Olympic Association on Wednesday was hopeful the squad would bag up to 15 medals at the multi-sport event this August.
IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta said that India were well on their way to a good show at the Games.
“We still expect 10 to 15 more to join those already qualified. I feel that India can win around 12 to 15 medals in Rio de Janeiro,” Mehta said on the sidelines of an event where dairy brand Amul was named official sponsor of India’s Games contingent.
Mehta even named those whom he felt could win medals. “We have high hopes from Saina Nehwal (badminton), Jitu Rai (shooting), Vikas Krishan (boxing), one each in tennis and archery, Yogeshwar Dutt (wrestling) and the men’s hockey team to name a few,” he said.
India’s chef de mission to Rio, Rakesh Gupta, felt discus thrower Vikas Gowda would be among the medal prospects.
Sports like boxing and wrestling had been in the news for the wrong reasons recently. The Sushil Kumar-Narsingh Yadav face-off for example would not help the wrestlers’ cause at Rio. Agreed Mehta, “It will affect the morale of the wrestlers but we can’t interfere as it is up to the federation. I am still hopeful of a medal from wrestling.”
Meanwhile, the Zika virus threat in Brazil has caused a number of athletes around the world to pull out of the Games with world no. 1 golfer Jason Day joining the growing list.
Gupta, however, said the body was trying everything in this regard. “There are concerns about Zika but we are taking every possible precaution for the Indian contingent. Whatever advisory we have received from the international body we have forwarded to players and federations,” he said.
The IOA will also provide mosquito repellents and full sleeves T-shirts to the athletes to avert the threat.
“None of the athletes have raised any concern so far and I am also hopeful by the time the Olympics gets underway, things will get better,” he maintained.
