Joyous temper: Bhagat, Anjum, Rani, and Nikhat share amusing after slicing a cake to have a good time Sreeshankar’s, second from proper, birthday.
| Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY
Long jumper M. Sreeshankar feels the Paris Olympics in 2024 goes to be very special, not simply for Indian athletics however for sports activities within the nation on the whole. He was talking on the Sportstar National Sports Conclave in a panel titled ‘Eyeing the Paris Podium’.
Rifle shooter Anjum Moudgil, hockey star Rani Rampal, Tokyo 2020 Paralympic badminton gold medallist Pramod Bhagat, and boxing World Champion Nikhat Zareen had been additionally part of the dialogue.
“In an event like athletics, we didn’t have any medals until 2020. We had come very close with P.T. Usha and Anju (Bobby George) ma’ams’ performances, But with Neeraj (Chopra) bhaiya removing that mental block with that gold medal in Tokyo, I am sure Paris 2024 will be something special for athletics and Indian sports,” Sreeshankar, who additionally celebrated his birthday on the occasion by slicing a cake on stage, stated.
While Sreeshankar had his first Olympic expertise within the Tokyo version, Nikhat, but to make her debut on the Summer Games, . However, the 26-year-old, who, on Sunday, emerged as World Champion for the second straight yr, says it’s now her final dream. “I don’t have any idea of how the Olympics is. If I qualify for Paris, that will be my first experience. The stories they are sharing now are making me a bit nervous. But I am mentally strong enough to tackle the challenge. I don’t know whether I will continue boxing after Paris. So, I am working really hard,” Nikhat stated.
The Indian capturing workforce had been one of many stronger contingents on the earlier version of the Games. However, in a serious disappointment, it returned empty-handed from Tokyo and Anjum, who had been part of the squad, defined the explanations for the non-show. “Our shooters were doing so well throughout the year, so the expectations were high. The pressure increases. There is so much going on at every level. There are a lot of controversies. Suddenly, there is also so much importance given that our training schedule is hampered. If you are giving so much respect to an athlete when he or she wins, he or she deserves the same respect when they don’t do well. Shooting went through a tough phase after Tokyo. There were negative things. But it was a learning. Ignoring all of that, you have to keep shooting high scores. I have been in this sport for 15 years, it took me 14 years to be World No. 1. I am sure this experience will help me in my preparation for next year.”
Meanwhile, Rani mirrored on the highs and lows of her Olympic journey. “I started my Olympic journey with 2008 qualification. I was so young back then. I saw my seniors crying when they lost the 2008 qualifiers. I didn’t understand why they were crying. Now I know. Because there may not be a next time for a few of them. In 2012, we lost again in the Olympic qualifier. I thought that was it. You feel alone. There was no support. In 2016, we qualified but finished 12th (last). That was a totally different experience. After Tokyo — where the Indian team just lost out on the bronze medal — we feel we can take on others.”
Bhagat wished the para-shuttlers proceed to obtain the identical assist and adulation. “After 2020, the media started giving us attention. Things are changing though. When I started, things were very different. The people trust you to do good now. Our mindset now is that the support we get, we are going to return the faith. We are going to double our medal count of 19 last time.”
