“The 2024 Games Is A Mid Term Goal But The Long Term Is 2028”: Kiren Rijiju


“The 2024 Games Is A Mid Term Goal But The Long Term Is 2028”: Kiren Rijiju

Kiren Rijiju

On Sunday, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Instagram live chat with table tennis player Manika Batra has revealed that he is looking for India finish under top-10 in the 2028 Olympics. He said the preparation has been started and to create a world champion it will take four to eight years.

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Kiren said that in the 2024 Paris Olympics India will develop that much of potential to win maximum medals.

“The 2024 Games is a mid-term goal but the long term is 2028. When I became sports minister I had very limited talents, potential Olympic medalists,” Rijiju said.

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“In 2024, we will have a potential team which can get us maximum medals. But in 2028 I’ve made my mind very clear we have to be in top-10. And I’m not saying just like that. Our preparation has started,” he said.

The preparation of junior athletes have already started in a solid way by supporting junior athletes programs. “Junior athletes are our future champions, we have started our preparation in a solid way. We will see results in 2024 and will make rapid progress. But mark my words, India will be in top-10 in 2028. We are creating a conducive atmosphere, support staff towards that,” the minister added.

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“To create a world champ it will take four to eight years. I’ve laid the foundation now. We have started junior coaching very professionally. We are providing best possible coaching and technical support. It will require four to eight years to become champion,” Rijiju said.

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During the lockdown period, the salaries of athletes have not stopped including junior athletes.

“We have not stopped the stipends. We have released the money for all the junior athletes too. We have cleared all of them and not a penny is pending,” he concluded.