Mr.Kiran Rijiju Believes India Can Beat London 2012 medal tally at Tokyo 2020 | Sports News | Sports247live

Mr.Kiran Rijiju Sports Minister Government of India Confident India can beat London 2012 medal tally at Tokyo 2020

Kiren Rijiju is highly confident their Tokyo 2020 athletes can bounce back from a disappointing showing at Rio 2016 by bettering the nation’s record Olympic Games medal haul.

India won six medals, two silver, and four bronze, at London 2012, their best performance at the Games to date.

The country claimed just two medals at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, considered a poor return owing to the size and population of the country, which is currently more than 1.3 billion.

PV Sindhu earned silver in the women’s singles badminton, while Sakshi Malik took bronze in the women’s freestyle wrestling 58 kilograms competition.

Rijiju claimed the Indian Tokyo 2020 team has the “capability” of returning with their highest medal tally.

“Saying how many medals we will win eight to nine months beforehand is not correct,” he said.

“I am just making an assessment now that we have the capability of breaking the London record.”

The Sports Minister admitted, however, that were several “issues” which needed to be corrected if the Indian team is to succeed.

Governance is the biggest issue,” said Rijiju.

“Sometimes if the athlete is doing well, the federation is not able to tell the ministry, doesn’t promote the athlete.

“Players, federation, and Government all have to come together.

“Earlier the federation and 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 61 Indian athletes had so far qualified for next year’s Games.

A total of 118 competitors represented the nation at Rio 2016, while 83 Indian athletes competed at London 2012.