International athletes as Mission Olympic Cell members can suggest changes for better results: Anurag Thakur

Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur said that the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) had the great responsibility of helping create an atmosphere of greater positivity in the Indian ecosystem by strengthening the institutional framework so that the nation would do better in Paris 2024. The 64th meeting of the MOC was being held in New Delhi.

Addressing the reconstituted MOC, which included seven former internationals as new members, Thakur said it would be fair to examine what the Target Olympic Podium Scheme has achieved, if it has helped India gain at the international level and if it has helped National Sports Federations improve their athletic performance greatly.

He called for a fair evaluation of performances, asking for a sharper focus on the big-ticket events like the Olympic Games, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. He said the members had the experience to suggest some changes that can tweak the system to help India get better results in the Olympics Games in Paris.

Thanking the members for being a part of the MOC, he said he was sure that with their exposure and involvement in Indian sport they would help the Ministry prepare the roadmap for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024 while keeping next year's Commonwealth Games and Asian Games in mind.

Anurag Thakur said the Government is not shying away from spending money on sports and would not hesitate to increase the budget.

With seven new inductees, the number of former internationals in the MOC has gone up to eight. And, with the current Athletics Federation of India President Adille J. Sumariwalla being an Olympian and with the CEO of Target Olympic Podium Cdre. Pushpendra Garg being a world champion sailor, more than half the MOC has worn India colours.

The new inductees are World Athletics Championships Long Jump medallist Anju Bobby George, former India hockey captain Sardar Singh, rifle shooting legend Anjali Bhagwat, former India football captain Baichung Bhutia, former hockey captain and CEO Olympic Gold Quest Viren Rasquinha table-tennis star Monalisa Mehta and badminton ace Trupti Murgunde.

( With inputs from ANI )