East Delhi: The number of officials cannot be more than one-third of the athlete group as per the Sports Ministry rules. The ministry can, however, allow additional officials at no cost to the government.
The Indian contingent for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics is expected to be around 190, including over 100 athletes, IOA president Narinder Batra said on Thursday as Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju unveiled the official kits for the country’s participants.
So far, 100 athletes have qualified for the Tokyo Games, including 56 men and 44 women. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) expects another 25 to 35 to make the cut for the Games, which open on July 23.
“…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 which also marked 50 days to the Games.
“This means the Indian contingent, including officials and support staff, is likely to be around 190,” he added.
The number of officials cannot be more than one-third of the athlete group as per the Sports Ministry rules. The ministry can, however, allow additional officials at no cost to the government.
Batra also reiterated that India’s medal haul can touch the double-digit mark in Tokyo, which will be an unprecedented achievement. India’s best medal haul came in the 2012 London Olympics, where the country snared six medals, including two silver and four bronze.
The IOA chief said that all the athletes who have qualified for the Olympics have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine except for a few who have recently contracted the virus.
