No time for India to implement long-term plan for Tokyo Olympics: Abhinav Bindra - Hindustan Times
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No time for India to implement long-term plan for Tokyo Olympics: Abhinav Bindra

New Delhi | ByHT Correspondent
May 06, 2017 09:13 PM IST

The task force put in place by the sports ministry after the poor Rio Olympics show by India, will also make recommendations for the 2024 and 2028 Games

India’s lone individual Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra says there is not much time to scout talent or make drastic changes to the training structure of elite Indian athletes in the build-up to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Abhinav Bindra says there is not much time to scout talent or make drastic changes to the training structure in the build-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.(Getty Images)
Abhinav Bindra says there is not much time to scout talent or make drastic changes to the training structure in the build-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.(Getty Images)

“Since there is hardly any time left to reap the benefits of long-term planning, the possibility of making major changes is remote,” the Beijing Olympic 10m air rifle gold medallist said on the sidelines of the inauguration of a rehabilitation centre at Fortis Escorts hospital.

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Eight-member task force

Bindra is one of the eight members of a task force set up by the Sports Ministry in January to prepare an action plan for the next three Olympics.

READ | Road to 2020 Tokyo Olympics gets bumpy for India’s top athletes

The panel was set up after a contingent of over 100 athletes won only two medals in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Badminton star PV Sindhu claimed silver in women’s singles while Haryana grappler Sakshi Malik won bronze in women’s freestyle 58kg division.

Bindra said the interim report has been prepared for the Tokyo Games and will be submitted to the ministry soon. “We have made recommendations and it is up to the government to take a call,” he said, adding there will be a comprehensive report for the 2024 and 2028 Olympics.

READ | Abhinav Bindra says implementation key for India’s Tokyo Olympics hopes

“It is a huge canvas, it will take time to chalk out details,” he said.

Gopichand in panel

Chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand, former hockey captain Viren Rasquinha and Dronacharya awardee in hockey, Baldev Singh of Haryana, are also in the task force.

The panel’s convenor is Sandeep Pradhan, director general of Sports Authority of Gujarat. The task force members have been approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

READ | Abhinav Bindra, Sushil Kumar among 14 observers to monitor Olympic preparation

The government has set up the panel to broad-base the existing system with focus on scouting talent and nurturing them to win glory at global competitions.

The task force has to make recommendations mainly on nine points, including spotting talent for the core group as well as shortlisting coaching staff for 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Infrastructure and scientific training methods are the other key areas where it has to update the government.

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