COVID Assurance: Govt Promises Extra Care For India’s Olympics-Bound Athletes

New Delhi: The Olympic Games are just over two-and-a-half months away, and most of the Indian hopefuls are wondering whether they will finally be able to board the Tokyo-bound flight, given the raging coronavirus pandemic situation here.

Sensing the nervousness among athletes and the difficulties they are facing in their preparation, Union Youth Affairs & Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday promised to provide “extra care” to Olympic-bound athletes ahead of the mega sporting event.

“Due to pandemic our athletes are facing complicated challenges while preparing for the Tokyo Olympics. Govt will provide extra care and assistance to our athletes as per their special requirements,” the minister tweeted.

Rijiju said a few weeks ago that he expects India’s medal haul to be in double digits this time.

“India must cross double digits (in medals). All the best to all the athletes, there will be no shortage of facilities to any Olympic-bound athletes from SAI,” Rijiju had stated last month.

India had cut a sorry figure in the 2016 Rio Olympics, managing just a silver (PV Sindhu, badminton) and a bronze (Sakshi Malik, wrestling).

The Tokyo Olympics, which got postponed from the original dates last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will now be held from July 23-August 8, 2021.