Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Chief Narinder Batra has said that the Indian contingent for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics is expected to be around 190, which will include over 100 athletes.
Batra was speaking on the occassion of unveiling the official kits for the country’s participants along with Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju.
As if now, 100 athletes have qualified for the showpiece event and the IOA is expecting another 25 to 35 to make the cut. Of the 100 athletes, 56 are men while 44 are women.
“We are estimating to touch 125 to 135 (qualified athletes) by the next two to three weeks when the qualification process is over,” Batra said during the online ceremony.
“This means the Indian contingent, including officials and support staff, is likely to be around 190,” he added.
Batra also hoped that India’s medal haul can touch the double-digit mark in Tokyo.
Meanwhile, the Sports Minister said that the athletes should follow all the guidelines and protocols during their trip.
“The IOC will issue a Playbook (latest version) this month but there will be only minor changes (from earlier version). We have to follow all the health and safety protocols in view of the pandemic. Olympics is the platform where the best in the world will compete. I hope our athletes will make their best effort and make the country proud by winning medals,” he said.
“Today, the Prime Minister took a review of the country’s preparation for the Olympics and assured the participating athletes that the entire country is behind them,” Rijiju added.
He said his ministry has provided all kinds of support — financial and logistical — to the athletes amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As per reports, the official kits are sponsored by Li Ning while the official ceremonial kits are sponsored by Raymonds.