Asian Games: Thakur attributes success to athletes and the support system

GUWAHATI: An elated Union Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Anurag Thakur attributed the success story of the Indian squad at the just-concluded Asian Games in China to the hard work of the sportspersons and the support they have received from the government.

Following is an excerpt from the interview of the Union Minister with The Sentinel on Sunday.

Q.It is the best-ever performance by an Indian team in an Asian Games. Your reaction...

Thakur: I said in my congratulatory messages to all athletes, “We said it, and we did it!” The hard work and determination of our athletes to win medals and the vision of PM Narendra Modi have yielded results to create a holistic sports ecosystem, combined with the support extended to them through the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and other government funds.

Q.What was your expectation from the Indian team in Hangzhou?

Thakur: We were confident. We kept an ambitious target of crossing 100 medals. The stellar performance of the Indian contingent in the Asian Games is a testimony to the hard work and commitment the sportspersons displayed on the field.

Q. India has been doing well in Olympic events in recent times. According to you, what are the key factors ?

Thakur: It is the vision that our Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi put in place in 2014. Today, the sports ecosystem in the country has a pyramidal structure from grassroots to elite, where talent identification and talent nurturing have become continuous processes. The Prime Minister wanted elite athletes to have all the facilities that they needed to bring in results. Under TOPS, we have two different categories of players: development and elite, and for both sets of players, the government provides training, diet, foreign exposures, equipment, and personalised support to each athlete. They are also given a monthly out-of-pocket allowance. In 2018, the Khelo India Scheme was introduced to identify talent at the grassroots and train them. We have also built a lot of sporting infrastructure in every corner of India.

Q. Now, the focus will be shifted to the Paris Olympics. What are the areas on which we need to focus?

Thakur: Our hopes and expectations for the Paris Olympics are very high. We believe that we have the potential to win more medals than ever before. The ministry is taking a number of steps to ensure success in Paris. We are investing heavily in sports infrastructure and coaching. We are also creating a supportive ecosystem for sports in India. We are also working with the Indian Olympic Committee to develop a comprehensive plan for the 2024 Olympics. This plan will identify the key focus areas for our athletes and ensure that they have the best possible chance of success.

Q. Does the government have any special plan to develop the Northeast region in sports?

Thakur: The Northeast is one of the top sports hubs in the country. The Narendra Modi government has laid a lot of focus on the overall development of the North Eastern states, and encouraging and supporting sporting talents from the region is one of the top priorities. Already, a lot of support is flowing to promote sports, support sportspersons, and improve sports infrastructure in the Northeast through TOPS, Khelo India, and the National Sports Development Fund. It will be further scaled up depending on the requirements.

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