It was an official send-off function for the Asian Games here on Friday, hosted by the Indian Olympic Association and supported by the Sports Ministry. Despite a tenuous relationship, the two highest sports administration bodies have maintained a modicum of unanimity on the public stage.
It wasn’t any different this time. While both IOA officials and Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore praised the other for “unstinted support” and “acknowledgement of roles” in providing facilities, it was accompanied by some sparring as well.
“The sports ministry has been very helpful. They generally say no the first time but agree to our requests the second time,” IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta quipped, evoking laughter from those gathered and wry smiles from those on stage including IOA president Narinder Batra and India’s chef-de-mission Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh besides Rathore.
He wasn’t done. “Any NSF that has any requests or issues can take it up with the minister here, he won’t say no,” he said. “I hope the ministry will continue to be supportive and clear our complete contingent for the Games soon, maybe within an hour of this function getting over,” he added.
“I would also ask the stakeholders to announce cash incentives, if any, for the athletes to further incentivise their performances,” he insisted.
The ministry wasn’t his only target. Praising main sponsor Edelweiss for extending its ₹50 lakh life insurance cover to all participating athletes — earlier it was only for those whose federations are recognised by the IOA — Mehta sought similar support from other sponsors as well. “Maybe that will also come today itself,” he quipped.
The occasion saw Rathore remind the athletes — a handful were present including shooters Anish Bhanwala and Sanjeev Rajput, hockey players Sardar Singh and Savita Punia — that their identities were subservient to that of the nation.
“It is a matter of great pride that you are representing the country and you have earned this privilege. When you take part in the Games, you lose your individual identity and your identity there is just ‘India’. It is a big responsibility, whatever you do on and off the field,” he said.
Assuring the IOA he said, “I congratulate the IOA and the NSFs for preparing these athletes. We have to work collectively, nobody can work alone. Regarding the selection process, we will leave it to the IOA and NSFs. We will pay due respect to what the IOA has recommended.”
Batra hoped for more medals from the jumbo 800-plus contingent that includes 572 athletes in 36 sports. The original IOA list had 541 names but the constant chopping, changing and addition following a host of court cases saw the numbers go up. Interestingly, the later entries are yet to be accepted by the organisers.
