"Tougher To Satisfy Indian Athletes' Needs": IOA Acting President

• Image Credit: Internet

• Jul 28, 2022 | Sourav Boruah

Digital Desk: In light
of the issue involving Lovlina Borgohain's coach Sandhya Gurung, Indian Olympic
Association (IOA) acting president Anil Khanna stated on Thursday that the
needs of Indian athletes during multi-sport competitions are a little harder to
meet than those of other nations. Following her arrival in the city for the
2022 Commonwealth Games, Borgohain claimed that Gurung and other authorities
were harassing her coaches, which was preventing her from making the necessary
preparations. She requested that Gurung be added to the CWG contingent, and the
IOA complied with her request at the last minute.

For Gurung to enter the Games
Village, Karanjeet Singh, the boxing contingent's authorised team doctor, had
to be moved outside.

"Indian athletes have slightly
different needs than other athletes because of their tendency to respond too
quickly. There is not always a feeling of cooperation between the athletes
"Khanna told PTI while he was in Birmingham.

"Since Lovlina won an Olympic
medal, we were obliged to comply with her request. The medical staff for the
boxing squad has experience. "The travel is being planned, there is no
issue at all," Khanna insisted, noting that he is staying outside the
hamlet like many of our officials and the coach.

India's medal total at the Games is
projected to suffer significantly because of the absence of shooting. India
finished third with 66 medals from the Gold Coast Games four years ago,
including 16 in shooting.

"We anticipate 60 to 65 medals.
We must wait and see how many we receive. There would undoubtedly be a negative
effect from the absence of shooting, he said.

Additionally, he declared that 164
(89+55+20) Indian athletes and officials from three separate villages will take
part in Thursday night's opening ceremony.

Regarding the 2026 Games' lack of
shooting and wrestling, he continued, "For 2026, shooting and wrestling
are not currently included, but we have had discussions with CGF President Dame
Louise Martin.

The deadline for the relevant world federations of shooting
and wrestling to submit expressions of interest to CGF is August 19.

They must deliver a presentation by September 30, he said.