The Indian athletes who will represent the country at the Paris Olympics, starting July 26, will be seen in smart dresses. At a ceremonial send-off held in the Capital, athletes, officials and the Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya along with Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri were present on the occasion. Leading the way was sprint queen PT Usha, who is now the Indian Olympic Association President.
In her welcome address, Usha said she had drawn on her experience as an athlete in ensuring that India’s athletes would not be short of sports science support as well in Paris 2024. “We have drawn up a very athlete-centric plan to support our athletes to perform at their peak in Paris,” she said at the function held at the Ashoka Hotel.
“We have assembled a strong team under Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala’s leadership. It includes sports medicine experts, wellness specialists, nutritionists, physiotherapists and a sleep scientist,” said a proud Usha. “For the first time, the IOA will also give a participation allowance to the athletes and the coaching and support staff. I am confident India will come back from Paris with its best showing in any Olympics.”
During the formal event, the Union Ministers unveiled three kits (ceremonial dress, playing kit and performance shoe and travel gear) of the Indian team. Paris Olympics bound Indian athletes were buoyant about their prospects at a ceremonial send-off organised by the Indian Olympic Association.
Addressing the gathering, Mansukh Mandaviya said all Indians celebrated the hard work, dedication, and unwavering spirit of the country’s athletes who have earned the honour of representing India on the biggest stage. “This event is not just about the unveiling of uniform and ceremonial dress but a symbol of the dreams and aspirations of billions of Indians who stand united behind the athletes,” he added.
“I am confident that this contingent will sustain India’s growth trajectory in sports. We saw a spurt from two medals in Rio 2016 to seven in Tokyo 2020 as India rose from 67th to 48th, helped in the main by Neeraj Chopra’s Javelin Throw gold medal. I am hoping that our athletes will take us even higher on the medal table this time,” he remarked.
The sports minister also said the Government has been in the forefront of a movement to make India a sporting powerhouse. “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, Government has supported athletes through various schemes such as Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) which provides specialised support to those who rise to the top,” he added.
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