Just a day into his tenure, the newly appointed Sports Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, held a meeting on Thursday to review India’s readiness for the upcoming Summer Olympics Games.

The meeting was with the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), PT Usha, who expressed optimism about a contingent of over 100 athletes from India participating in Paris. Mandaviya, who succeeded Anurag Thakur as the sports minister, met with the senior officials of the IOA, including Usha, at the IOA Bhawan on Thursday. The Paris Olympics 2024 are set to commence on July 26.

Summer Olympics
Image Source: Roaring Bengals

The meeting, which lasted for over an hour, was attended by several key figures, including the new Minister of State for Sports, Raksha Khadse, Sports Secretary Sujata Chaturvedi, and the Director General of the Sports Authority of India, Sandip Pradhan. During this meeting, Mandaviya was updated on the country’s preparations for the Paris Games.

IOA President Usha's Optimism for the Summer Olympics

Mandaviya, addressing the media briefly, stated, “This is my first visit to the IOA officials, where I was informed about India’s preparation for the Paris Olympics. The government is dedicated to providing all necessary support.”

IOA President Usha was pleased with the meeting and believed that the discussion with the minister bodes well for the athletes heading to Paris. She said, “The Sports Minister visited our IOA today, accompanied by the Minister of State for Sports. I am delighted that they were keen to learn about the IOA and our preparations for Paris. We have made significant strides this time, and I have updated him on all aspects. We plan to maintain weekly contact, and I believe this will benefit our Olympic athletes.”

She further added, “We have done everything possible for the athletes, prioritizing their needs. We anticipate winning more medals this time than in Tokyo. I don’t want to set a specific target as it might put undue pressure on the players. As of now, 97 athletes have qualified, and we expect the total number of athletes representing India in the Paris Olympics to be between 115 and 120.”

The Paris Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11 this year.

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