Continued funding beyond 2020 Olympic will be challenge, asserts Rajyavardhan Rathore
Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has asserted that he faces an uphill task of funding medal prospects of the next Asian Games and Commonwealth Games post the 2020 Games in Tokyo. Rathore was speaking at a felicitation ceremony, held by the IOA, for the Asian Games medallists.
After the recently concluded Asian Games, where India won its highest ever medal haul with a total of 69 medals, the next major stop for Indian athletes is the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A major chunk of the funding is expected to be spent on the preparations for Tokyo Games.
"I know in the next two years players will focus on 2020 Olympics but there are a lot of them who are not an immediate medal prospects in the coming Olympics. They are potential medal prospects for the next Asian Games and Commonwealth Games," Rathore told PTI.
"Earlier the funding for these players used to be stopped but we are changing it. It is a big challenge for me that the funding for the medal prospects for the next Asian Games, Commonwealth Games continues. I am trying my best, talking to corporates who are passionate about sports to raise funds.
“Things will change, I'm not saying it will be fast but I can assure the speed of change will be the best as we can do. You have already noticed the differences you will see many more differences ahead. Stay focussed on your sport.”