At the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, India made history by winning 29 medals in athletics. This achievement has heightened fans’ expectations for future victories, especially at the upcoming Paris Olympics. All eyes will be on Neeraj Chopra after his golden triumph at the last edition in Tokyo, but there are a few other athletes who could surprise the world.
In this episode of ‘Trailblazers: Celebrating Champions,’ Adille Sumariwalla, President of the Athletics Federation of India, and Vice President, World Athletics, discusses Neeraj, the expectations from athletes, concerns regarding Kishore Jena, and much more in a conversation with RevSportz Editor-in-Chief, Boria Majumdar.
Adille Sumariwalla is optimistic about India’s performance at the upcoming Paris Olympics. Reflecting on the recent Asian Games, where India won 29 medals in athletics, Sumariwalla believes that the country will see even better results than at the Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021. He emphasises the importance of progress over the type and colour of medals, stating, “For me, the most important thing is when I look at progress. A medal can go anywhere with 1 centimetre, 2 centimetres.”
He cited the example of Neeraj Chopra, who won gold with throws of 88 to 89 metres, even though other competitors have thrown over 90 metres. Sumariwalla argues that focusing solely on gold medals misses the broader picture of the athletes’ progress and development. He highlights the increase in the number of Indian athletes reaching the top rank over the last three Olympics and emphasises the importance of a strong process and good systems in place, which he believes will eventually lead to more medals.
For the Latest Sports News: Click Here
EXCLUSIVE
“We will do better than Tokyo,” says Adille Sumariwalla ahead of #Paris2024.
The @afiindia President is focused on holistic progress in athletics at the Olympics, rather than just the medal tally.
He also shared thoughts on @Neeraj_chopra1, @Kishore78473748, and… pic.twitter.com/4oNgyuBrWW
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) July 20, 2024
Regarding Neeraj Chopra’s fitness, Sumariwalla reassured fans that the icon is in good shape and gearing up for Paris. He praised Chopra’s consistency and mental strength, saying, “He is one of the most consistent javelin throwers I have seen in the world in all my 40 years of athletics. The greatest advantage with him is that he seems to have a way of not letting pressure push him down. The second thing that I have seen is he lives in the moment.” He acknowledgef that throwers often deal with niggling pain due to the nature of the sport but remains confident on Chopra’s ability to shine again.
Sumariwalla also addressed concerns about Kishore Jena, expressing hope that Jena’s final month of training will be successful despite recent issues. “There have been issues. We are confident that with everything that we are doing with the training, with the mental setup, with a mental trainer, this, that and the other, he will hopefully at that point in time, he should deliver,” the President added. He is optimistic about the 4x400m relay team’s potential, noting their record-breaking performances in Budapest and the improved fitness of key runners. He believes they can be in the top five if they maintain their form. “Today the way I look at it, if the pressure does not get to them, they are in a better form than they were in Budapest,” he further added.
He also mentioned other promising athletes, such as Anu Rani, who has been training in Germany, and Jeswin Aldrin, who recently set a national record. He expects them to perform well, with Aldrin likely to be in the top six. Avinash Sable, who has been training in the US, is also expected to put up a strong fight.
Sumariwalla emphasised that the focus should be on athletes performing their best and achieving personal and national records. He attributed the progress to the support from the government of India’s TOPS scheme and the Mission Olympic Cell, which has provided athletes with the resources they need. He concludes, “All I am asking is, perform your best. If that gets you a medal, great. As long as you perform your best, I am satisfied.”
Also Read: Kishore Jena Ahead of Paris 2024: Now Without Injury, I Feel Lot More Confident