Milkha Singh : Make Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore the Sports Minister

After winning six medals at the London Olympics, India are likely to end up with less than half of the tally at Rio. The nation, which has a population of more than 1.3 billion, currently has only two medals – one silver and one bronze – and is 66th in the medal standings. With the nation producing an underwhelming performance at Rio, Milkha Singh suggested that Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore should be made the Union Sports Minister with "appropriate support" for better results in future multi-sporting world events.

I have a suggestion, make Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore the Sports Minister."

"I have a suggestion, make Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore the Sports Minister and put him in charge with appropriate funding and resource support. Put different individuals as heads for different sports and give them all support to get medals for India. We have the talent in India and with the right effort, I am confident that we can do it," Milkha Singh said, reported PTI.

"As soon as the Rio Olympics are over, work should begin on the next two games with a clear objective of winning medals there, keeping in mind the improving world standards. Today we have the infrastructure and resources. Nothing is lacking. We should get top class coaches on a contract basis and empower them and our sports people to go for gold,” he added.

Rathore, who won a silver medal in double trap event at the 2004 Athens Olympics, is currently a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is a member of Parliament from Jaipur Rural constituency. He is currently the Minister of State for Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under the Narendra Modi government.

The Flying Sikh also showered praise on the medal-winners – Sakshi Malik and PV Sindhu – and said that he had tears in his eyes when they won the medal.

I had tears in my eyes when I saw PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik drape the national flag."

"I had tears in my eyes when I saw PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik drape the national flag around their shoulders after receiving their medals. My wife Nirmal, who was an Inter Varsity badminton player herself, joins me in congratulating PV Sindhu, her parents and her coach Gopichand for the wonderful achievement.

"I would also like to congratulate Sakshi Malik and Dipa Karmakar, their parents, and coaches for their sacrifices and for proving that with hard work and determination, Indians can excel and this should be an inspiration to our boys as well. You ladies have made India proud and we are grateful to you," said the 'Flying Sikh'.