“Your identity at the Asiad is just one name , 'India’,” Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore tells athletes
Sports minister and former Olympic medalist, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has asked the Indian athletes and officials to behave responsibly at the Asian games in Jakarta. He also praised the IOU and NSFs for their training and selection and has asked players not to think too much about results.
The Indian contingent shall be participating at the Asian Games 2018 which are scheduled to begin on the 18th of August. A huge team of well trained athletes and officials have flown to Jakarta for this auspicious tournament. All the athletes willwbe hoping to make a mark in history. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, the sports minister has wished the whole contingent luck for their performances at the championship.Â
The sports minister has not only wished well for the whole contingent, but has also asked the athletes and officials to behave responsibly. The sports minister has emphasized on the fact that each and every person, who is a part of the Indian contingent , shall not have any individual identity, but shall only be known by one name and that is “Indian”. Hence every action taken shall have an opposite reaction, not towards an individual person, but towards the nation as a whole.Â
"It is a matter of great pride you (athletes) are representing the country in the Games and you have earned this privilege. When you take part in the Games and when you stay in the Games Village, you will lose your individual identity and your identity there is just one name that is 'India’. It is a big responsibility for you. Whatever you do on the field and off the field, please remember one thing that you are representing a billion strong nation. You have to act with responsibility. Whether it is the athletes or officials, everybody should remember this all the time,” Rathore quoted.Â
Rathore also motivated the spirits of the athletes and gave them advice for their performances at the Asian Games. Rathore said that he hoped India would win more medals than the previous games but also wanted athletes to only focus on their performances, rather than thinking about the outcomes.
“You have been preparing for years now and must be having dreams (to win medals). Now you are approaching nearer to your event. I would advise you to remain confident that those thousands of hours of your training and hard work will help you. Please don't worry about the results too much and you should remain confident of your abilities. The results will come running after you," Rathore said to the athletes.
The former Olympic medallist also thanked the IOU and Sports Authority India for the appropriate and good quality training as well as facilities provided to the athletes and making them capable of standing and competing against the world giants.Â
“"I have seen the courage and the confidence of Indian athletes has made a sea change as compared to the 1990s, whether it is a 15-year-old or a 40-year-old. I congratulate the IOA, the NSFs for preparing these athletes. We have to work collectively, nobody can work alone. Ultimately, it is for the good of Indian sports,” Rathore quoted.Â
Rathore also mentioned that unlike earlier, he has now built up a system wherein the sportsmen are given the highest priority and lack of funds wouldn't be an issue for talented young athletes.Â
“When I was an active sports person, I often heard that there is no money in the sports ministry. That is no longer the case. For the elite athletes, for those who are competing at the continental and world level, there will not be lack of money for funding,” Rathore said.
A few days back, Rathore had said that a games period will be made mandatory in schools after reducing the syllabus by 50 percent by next year.
Asked about that, he said, "HRD Minister (Prakash Javadekar) is looking into it. What I have heard from Javadekar ji is that by 2019, the syllabus will be reduced and a games period will be made mandatory."
