We are getting better at Olympics: IOA

London - Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary general Randhir Singh Saturday said wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt‘s bronze medal that took the country’s tally to five, from the London Games made it India’s best ever performance at the Olympics.

Randhir said Yogeshwar’s performance will now inspire his childhood buddy Sushil Kumar, Beijing Games bronze medallist, to go for his second Olympic medal Sunday, when the Games end.

The 29-year-old Yogeshwar brought home the country’s third ever medal in Olympic wrestling after

Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav and Sushil Kumar. Jadhav and Kumar had also won bronze medals in 1952 Helsinki and 2008 Beijing Games.

“I am thrilled with Yogeshwar’s win. This has been just incredible. Five medals at The Games. This has never happened before. This medal will definitely inspire and boost Sushil’s morale to win India’s sixth medal tomorrow,” said Singh.

“I am very happy. We have won medals in every major event we expected to win except archery. Our campaign at the Olympics has been improving over the year. Leander (Paes) won one (1996), then it was Karnam Malleswari (2000), then we saw (Rajyavardhan Singh Rahore) bringing the silver. Then in Beijing we won three medals and this time now at least five. So things are looking up,” he added.

“Among other good performances we reached the quarterfinals of men’s badminton and (Joydeep) Karmakar almost won a bronze in shooting. This will generate new sportspersons who will go on to win more medals for the country”, said Randhir.