The Indian contingent at the 2023 Asian Games had a sensational outing as they returned with the country’s best ever medal haul. They won 107 medals which included 28 gold medals. Therefore Indian Olympics Association (IOA) president PT Usha on Sunday supported the government’s plan as they aim to bid for the hosting rights of the 2036 Olympics.
India showed that they are a rising power in sports, especially in Asia as they bettered their previous best medal tally by 37 medals. Courtesy of this performance, PT Usha believes that if the athletes, coaches and the federations work hard then India can host the 2036 Olympics.
“After this record-breaking performance in the Hangzhou Asian Games, if our country’s athletes, coaches and national federations work hard, I feel we can win double digit medals in the Paris Olympics,” Usha told in a media interaction.
She praised the current government for their tireless work ethic towards the better of sports. She also credits the Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi for taking a lot of interest in sports.
“The government is doing everything possible for the betterment of Indian sports and for the athletes. Our Prime Minister takes a lot of interest in the country’s sports,” she added.
She feels that it is time for India to express their interest in hosting the 2036 Olympics. She is confident that India will improve their medals tally in the Paris Olympics in comparison to Tokyo which will give India some added motivation to host the Summer Games.
“We should bid for the 2036 Olympics. I am sure India will win more medals in the Paris Olympics than in Tokyo, and then, with the medals to show, we can host the Olympics,” the 59-year-old former track and field athlete stated.
There is a possibility that the government could express India’s interest in hosting the 2036 Summer Games at the International Olympic Committee meeting session in Mumbai from October 15-17.
The IOC have moved away from the traditional bidding procedure. Now the interested countries express their interest through proposals. After that, the IOC’s Future Host Commission will identify and propose its preferred candidate to the Executive Board.
The Executive Board may then enter a targeted dialogue with a bid and later they take a call on whether to go ahead with that proposal or not. They may conduct a vote regarding this in an IOC session.
Usha genuinely was not surprised to see India winning beyond 100 medals at the Asian Games. “I am an athlete myself and I knew from the beginning that India will win more than 100 medals in Hangzhou. So I was not surprised when we crossed 100 medals,” she stated.
The Payyoli Express praised the athletes, officials, support staff and everyone involved in this success at the Asiad. She highlighted how the government was always backing the athletes to do well.
“I am happy that India achieved a record medal haul in the Asian Games during our tenure. Everybody worked hard — the athletes, coaches, support staff and officials. The government was ready to provide everything,” she concluded.
