India gained an unprecedented 107 medals, together with 28 gold, within the video games that ended on Sunday. Within the Chinese language metropolis, the nation noticed a rise of 37 medals from the earlier finest achieved within the 2018 version.
“After this record-breaking efficiency within the Hangzhou Asian Video games, if our nation’s athletes, coaches and nationwide federations work onerous, I really feel we are able to win double digit medals within the Paris Olympics,” Usha instructed PTI right here.
“The federal government is doing all the pieces attainable for the betterment of Indian sports activities and for the athletes. Our prime minister takes a variety of curiosity within the nation’s sports activities.”
She mentioned the time has come for India to bid for the Olympics.
“We must always bid for the 2036 Olympics. I’m certain India will win extra medals within the Paris Olympics than in Tokyo, after which, with the medals to point out, we are able to host the Olympics,” mentioned the 59-year-old former observe star fondly generally known as ‘Payyoli Specific’.
The federal government may formally categorical India’s curiosity to host the 2036 Olympics throughout the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai from October 15 to 17.
After latest reforms, the IOC has moved away from the standard bidding course of. After the nations place their proposal of curiosity, the IOC’s Future Host Fee will determine and suggest its most well-liked candidate to the Government Board.
The Government Board can then enter focused dialogue with a bid after which determine whether or not to suggest {that a} proposal be dropped at a vote at an IOC Session.
Usha, who took cost as IOA chief in December final 12 months, mentioned she was under no circumstances stunned at India successful greater than 100 medals in Hangzhou.
“I’m an athlete myself and I knew from the start that India will win greater than 100 medals in Hangzhou. So I used to be not stunned once we crossed 100 medals,” mentioned Usha, who missed an Olympic 400m hurdles medal by one-hundredth of a second within the 1984 Los Angeles Video games.
“When it (100 medals) occurred, I instructed my colleagues that I knew India will win round 105 medals, and that occurred.
“I’m completely happy that India achieved a report medal haul within the Asian Video games throughout our tenure. Everyone labored onerous — the athletes, coaches, help workers and officers. The federal government was prepared to supply all the pieces.”
She mentioned essentially the most encouraging side concerning the report haul was that India gained medals in a number of sports activities, and only a few ones.
“As a observe and discipline athlete myself, I’m so completely happy that we gained 29 medals from athletics although the variety of gold was lower than final time.
“Capturing and archery did very properly. And we gained medals in so many sports activities, that’s the most encouraging factor.”
India gained no less than a medal in 22 sports activities. India despatched 660 athletes to Hangzhou, the biggest ever contingent, to compete in 39 sports activities.
Requested concerning the general organisation of Hangzhou Video games, she mentioned, “China has the expertise of internet hosting huge occasions. From touchdown on the airport to the Athletes Village and lots of different issues, it has been very clean apart from a couple of technical glitches (in athletics) which I really feel occur in occasions of such magnitude.
“Even the technical glitches can’t be intentional. This sort of factor can occur and has occurred prior to now.
“Within the 100m hurdles case additionally (involving India’s Jyothi Yarraji) the correction was achieved and the medal was upgraded to silver.”