New Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya takes stock of Paris Olympics preparation, meets IOA chief PT Usha
After taking over the charge of the sports ministry, newly appointed Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya took stock of India’s Paris Olympics preparations on Thursday. He did so during his meeting with IOA President PT Usha.
Mandaviya took charge on Tuesday after the new NDA government was sworn to office on June 9, 2024. He replaced Anurag Thakur, who previously held the position.
The meeting was attended by the new Minister of State for Sports, Raksha Khadse, Sports Secretary Sujata Chaturvedi, and Sports Authority of India's Director General Sandip Pradhan, among others. It went on for over an hour, where Mansukh Mandaviya was briefed about how the Indian contingent was preparing for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
“I today visited the IOA officials for the first time where they briefed me about India’s preparation for Paris Olympics. The government is committed to extend all possible support,” Mandaviya said in a brief address to the media as reported by PTI.
IOA chief PT Usha said that the meeting with the newly appointed sports minister went well. However, she did not divulge into the details.
“The Sports Minister today visited IOA along with the Minister of State for Sports and I am so happy that they wanted to know about IOA and about Paris preparations," she said.
“We have done everything good this time and I have briefed him. We will be in contact every week and I hope that this is good for our Olympic athletes,” she added.
Usha hopes for India’s contingent to be over 100 at the 2024 Paris Olympics
India's contingent was in excess of 100 at the Tokyo Games last time around. Moreover, the nation put up a brilliant record-breaking display at the recent Asian Games as well.
IOA chief Usha hopes for a similar display at the Paris Games as well and is hopeful of the Indian contingent crossing the 100 mark even this time.
“We have done everything for sportspersons. Whatever the players have wanted, we have done this time. So we are expecting more medals than Tokyo. I don’t want to put any number and give tension to the players," she stated.
“Already, 97 athletes have qualified and we are expecting around 115 to 120 athletes in all to represent India in Paris Olympics,” the former legendary athlete concluded.
The 2024 Paris Olympics will commence on July 26. The highly anticipated event is set to conclude on August 11 this year.