The sporting fraternity in general has welcomed the appointment of hockey Olympian and World Cup-winning captain Ajitpal Singh as the Chef de Mission of the Indian contingent for the London Olympics.
There was understandable happiness among sportspersons that for the first time ever in India a sportsman had been appointed for the post, in keeping with the trend shown by many other countries.
Zafar Iqbal, member of the 1980 Olympics gold medal winning team in Moscow, said, “It is a very good beginning. A hockey player has been recognised. I am sure those who are capable will continue to get such honour in the future too.
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“Olympics is a huge sporting spectacle and a player understands the needs the best. Ajitpal can help the players achieve their best. It is a hectic job but Ajitpal was a centre half and I know he can handle defence and offence with a lot of skill.”
Col Balbir Singh, another hockey Olympian and current chairman of the National selection committee, said, “It is nice to know that a fellow player from Sansarpur (Punjab) has got the job. His temperament will come in handy and I am sure he will be able to guide the contingent efficiently.”
P.T. Usha, fourth-place finisher in the 400m hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and multiple gold winner in the Asian Games, said: “It is a recognition and honour for Ajitpal Singh and an encouragement to sportspersons.
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“It is a welcome development and I am happy about it. I hope the IOA will follow the policy of appointing sportspersons for the job in future also.”
Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, finalist in the 110m hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, said: “I am happy that a sportsperson has been chosen for the post. Needless to say all sportspersons should be happy by this move by the IOA.”
According to table tennis veteran and Olympian Kamlesh Mehta's, Ajitpal's appointment was a “good step” and much awaited. “As a sportsman he is expected to understand sportsmen better. He will also cope well with the need and pressure they would experience at the Olympics. “It is a recognition and appreciation for his contribution to Indian sports. He will do a great job and I am sure his vision will help the contingent,” Mehta said.
Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra expressed happiness at the appointment of Ajitpal. “For the first time the mantle of stewardship has been entrusted in the hands of a former sportsman and it is indeed an honour that this responsibility has been given to a hockey stalwart,” he said.
“It is the right decision and a welcome step by the IOA,” said former IOA treasurer and former president of the Indian Boxing Federation A.K. Mattoo who was the chef de mission at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.