India Prepares for Paris Olympics: High-Powered Committee Meets to Enhance Coordination

India Gears Up for Paris Olympics: High-Powered Committee Meets to Enhance Coordination

New Delhi: In preparation for the upcoming Paris Olympics, a high-level committee comprising officials from the Sports Ministry, Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and Sports Authority of India (SAI) convened on Friday to assess India's readiness.

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who presided over the meeting, emphasized the need for "coordination among all stakeholders." He urged officials to prioritize "country's interest before personal interest," according to sources familiar with the discussions.

These remarks come amidst ongoing disputes within the IOA over accreditation and financial matters. "IOA executive council members are seeking access cards for National Olympic Committees, which are distributed to federations. These cards provide access to all venues and are essential for federation officials," an IOA official explained.

"However, only a limited number of such cards (six) are available for India. Some IOA officials also wish to bring their family members," the official added.

To address these concerns, a coordination committee was established during the meeting, with IOA President PT Usha and SAI DG Sandip Pradhan in attendance. Usha and IOA executive committee members have been at odds over various issues, including the appointment of CEO Raghuram Iyer, which remains unratified.

Upon assuming office, Sports Minister Mandaviya had met with IOA executive council members and urged them to resolve their differences.

India's Olympic Contingent and Coaching Support

India will send a contingent of 257 members, including 118 athletes, to the Olympics. Notably, Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Mirabai Chanu will be supported by three coaches and a physio. In addition to national coach Vijay Sharma, Sandip Kumar and Pramod Kumar have been included as coaches in weightlifting, while Rohit Shyam Chhabria will serve as physio.

Tokyo gold medalist Neeraj Chopra will be accompanied by his coach Klaus Bartonietz and physio Ishaan Marwaha. Other athletes, including Manu Bhaker, Vinesh Phogat, PV Sindhu, Manika Batra, Jyothi Yarraji, Gaganjeet Bhullar, and Rajeshwari Kumari, will have their personal coaches.

In wrestling, the coaches of Anshu Malik, Antim Panghal, Nisha Dahiya, and Aman Sehrawat will be accommodated in the 'non-accredited' category.

Tags: #ParisOlympics, #IOA, #SAI, #SportsMinistry, #Coordination