With just over a fortnight left for the 2014 Asian Games, there is still no clarity on India’s participation status in several sports. The uncertainty has, expectedly, affected the athletes’ preparation for the big event but no official is willing to clear the air.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA)’s jumbo-sized 942-member list to the Sports Ministry for clearance, including 662 athletes, is yet to be finalised.
At a send-off event by Samsung for the Indian contingent here on Thursday, IOA president N. Ramachandran categorically refused to say anything about either the IOA or the Asian Games.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The list hasn’t been cleared yet so no comments,” was all he said before slipping away from the venue. Other IOA officials including secretary general Rajeev Mehta also made a quick exit, refusing to talk to the media.
Ramachandran did promise to put athletes first in his official speech. “You are truly our flag-bearers. The IOA is dependent on all of you and your performances. We are dedicated to the athletes and ‘athletes first, administrators second’ is our motto,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The athletes, however, admit it would be a big disappointment if they fail to go to Incheon.
“We work hard, train hard, and the Asian Games is a very important event for any Indian sportsperson. It will be very disappointing if we are unable to go,” said last-time’s gold medallist boxer L. Devendro.
Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, who missed out on the 2010 Asian Games due to injury, is also hoping to make up for the absence. “The World Championships and the Asian Games are very close. It was important to concentrate on one event if we have to get good results. World Championships happen every year, the Asian Games once in four years,” Dutt said, explaining his decision to pull out of the upcoming World Championships in Tashkent.
Tough competitionAsked about the competition at Incheon, Dutt admitted it would be tough.
“Commonwealth Games was not easy but at the Asiad, we will have wrestlers from Iran, Korea and Japan. They are among the best in the world so yes, the competition would be much tougher. If we manage to beat them here, we can beat them anywhere,” Dutt said.
The Samsung Sports Ratna programme for Asian Games, instituted way back in 1998, has 12 athletes supported and funded by the company.
The athletes change based on their international performances and consistency with 29 athletes being part of the programme so far.
The 12 athletes who have been supported this time include shooters Manavjit Sandhu, Abhinav Bindra, Gagan Narang, Malaika Goel, wrestlers Yogeshwar Dutt, Vinesh Phogat and Babita Kumari, boxers Devendro and Mary Kom, shuttlers P.V. Sindhu and Parupalli Kashyap and archer Deepika Kumari.