New Delhi, India, December 18, 2019: Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Monday that India has the capability to break the best-ever medal haul record set at the 2012 London Olympics during next year’s Tokyo Games. “Saying how many medals we will win eight or nine months beforehand is not correct. I am just making an assessment now that we have the capability of breaking the London record,” Rijiju said. India logged its best-ever performance in the Olympics at London 2012 bringing home an unprecedented six medals comprised of two silvers and four bronze. However, at the subsequent 2016 Rio Olympics, India fared poorly winning just two medals – PV Sindhu taking the silver in women’s badminton and Sakshi Malik winning bronze in women’s freestyle wrestling 58kg category. A total of 118 athletes represented India in Rio 2016, while 83 competed in London in 2012. At present, 61 Indian athletes are qualified for Tokyo 2020. Rijiju also called for better governance and asked all parties to come together and work closely to ensure success. “Players, federations and government all have to come together. Earlier the federation and the government fought with each other all the time. But when I was made minister I called the federations and said I’m not here to govern over you; I am here to help you and the athletes,” Rijiju said. Source: Times of India
Sports Minister Rijiju believes India can win record medal haul at Tokyo 2020
