'Some Have Turned A Blind Eye': IOA Chief PT Usha Reiterates on The Support Given To Indian Athletes

Paris Olympics 2024: The Indian contingency is all geared up to travel to Paris for the 33rd Summer Games. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has zeroed down on all the Paris bound athletes who will compete in the 33rd edition of the Summer Games later this month. India is expected to send their largest ever contingency for the Paris Olympics and they'll look to better their performance as compared to  Tokyo Olympics 2020.

IOA President PT Usha Hits back At Critics

Much ahead of the all-important Summer Games, PT Usha praised the sports ministry and how they helped the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the other national federations. Usha reiterated on the fact that the association of the sports ministry and the IOA has helped the athletes to receive their preferred support staff. It was not only about the praises, but Usha also did criticize people who turned an blind eye to all the work done by the IOA.

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Usha did not mince words and went on to say that the critics have done nothing except turning a 'blind eye to such synergy'. The sports ministry has greenlit a Indian contingency comprising of 117 athletes and 140 support staff members for the upcoming Paris Games. The IOA has left no stone unturned to make sure that the athletes have a smooth sailing and hence are sending personal coaches which include the likes of personal coaches & trainers, mental trainers and physiotherapists. In addition to this, the IOA has also formed a team of 13-member Sports Science team headed by medicine expert Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala.

PT Usha's Statement reads

At IOA, we have embarked on an era when athletes are at the centre of our planning and preparations. Instead of the usual 3:1 ratio between athletes and support staff, we have worked hard to change it to slightly better than 1:1 ratio. Together with the sports ministry, and its units, the National Sports Federations and a good bunch of corporate partners, IOA had forged unprecedented teamwork. It is shocking that some have turned a blind eye to such synergy.

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India Look To Better Their Tokyo Olympics 2020 Performance

Team India scripted history at the Tokyo Olympics and won a total of seven medals, their highest in 128 years history of the Summer Games. The Indian contingency's medal hopes highly rely on Neeraj Chopra, Nikhat Zareen, Antim Panghal and the India men's hockey team and hence they are expected to outdo themselves in the upcoming Summer Games.