The 100 days to go countdown before any Olympics is a huge landmark. And for Tokyo, which will host the Summer Games from July 23, each day is one of excitement and anticipation.
For the Doubting Thomasses, a sizeable number, there are still doubts if these Olympics will be staged! Ask the stakeholders, they have a different story to tell.
Be it the participating athletes from various countries, easily the most important people in the Olympics, their coaches, managers, physios and related support staff, the days ahead are of high anticipation. They have slogged, against all odds. Quite a few athletes have suffered the Corona virus and their comeback to sport has been even more arduous.
But then, for the elite athletes, qualifying and competing in the Summer Games is one of sheer joy. From an Indian point of view, there is positivity in the air. Agreed, the Covid-19 pandemic makes headlines every minute on media and social media in India. However, for the elite Indian athletes across a multitude of sporting disciplines, this is the time to show they will get even better with each passing day.
There have been many athletes who have secured their berths to Tokyo in the last one month. From Bhavani Devi in fencing to Nethra Kumanan, Vishnu Saravanan, KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar in sailing, the qualifications have been against all odds. Bhavani had not been selected for the Asian Games last time in 2018 and her making the cut has been hyped up.
The sailors did immensely well last week in Oman and what it shows is that despite the pandemic the Indian athletes have been slogging. More recently, grapplers Anshu Malik and Sonam Malik also made the cut and will be giving Vinesh Phogat company in Tokyo.
There is every possibility a few more Indian athletes will also qualify for the Summer Games, where swimming and athletics (relays) could also be in focus.
Indeed, with Corona news flooding the mind and space of every Indian, knowingly and unknowingly, it is the news from sporting fields which brings cheer. The way the Indian hockey team performed against Olympic champions Argentina in the FIH Pro League was outstanding. Hockey lovers are going gaga and it was nice to see so many players getting a chance. There are options now in goalkeeping as well — tried and tested PR Sreejesh and young Krishan Pathak — showing mettle under pressure.
It may be easy to gloat over the hockey performances and start touting the men’s team as a medal prospect. That would be unnecessary as pointed out by coach Graham Reid. He has spoken of how teams will try out more tactics and how return to top hockey after a long gap has been challenging. The team has potential and the top guns like Manpreet Pawar are focussed.
The ISSF World Cup was held in New Delhi last month and the 15 picked for the Tokyo Olympics are also slogging long hours. Manu Bhaker, just 19, will be the cynosure as she has been picked for three events. It is a huge responsibility but she seems hungry for it.
Very recently, javelin ace Neeraj Chopra was picked by one of the leading athletics magazines as one with the potential to win a silver in Tokyo Olympics. Neeraj’s consistency has been good and what stands out is his ability to not let anything distract him. The big bosses in the AFI are confident the young man can win a medal in Tokyo “if it is his day.”
In some sport like tennis, there is plenty of uncertainty who will make the cut among the men in doubles. Sania Mirza is more or less assured of an entry in doubles on the basis of her WTA protected ranking. It is good to see her training together with Ankita Raina.
If there is one worry now, with 100 days to go, it is the lack of clarity on vaccination programme for the Indian athletes and the entire support. Japan has said it will vaccinate all its athletes. One will not be surprised if the Tokyo organisers insist in coming day all athletes coming for the Olympics need to carry vaccine certificates.
The sports ministry needs to get cracking on this fast. To say they have written to the health ministry and no reply has been received is hard to comprehend. From Shastri Bhawan to Nirman Bhawan is walking distance in the Capital. The IOA should also realise the WADA is not going to spell out anything in a hurry.
It is this “no vaccine plan” which is causing a lot of distress even as archers, rowers, some TT players, wrestlers and a few more have already taken the jab.