Asian Games 2023: PT Usha expects India to better 2018 medal tally as cricket makes return

Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Dr. PT Usha is expecting team India to perform better than the 2018 Asian Games, when the country recorded its highest medal count of 70, surpassing the 65 medal count from the 2010 Asian Games. The continental multi-sport event scheduled for 2022 got delayed due to the pandemic and is slated to take place from September 23 to October 8, 2023 in Hangzhou, China.

"I am hoping that at Asian Games 2023 the overall performance of team Indian will be good, much better than last time (2018). We get more medals in athletics and the expectation is high from this discipline. We also have cricket this time," Usha told Moneycontrol.

Cricket returns

Cricket will make a come back in the Hangzhou competition after a 9-year gap. The sport had last featured in the 2014 edition after it became a medal event in the 2010 Asian Games held in Guangzhou, China. Cricket was not included during the 2018 competition.

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The medal tally is expected to reach 100 during the competition this year, say experts who are pinning their hopes on athletics as well as cricket. Usha said that India is sending its largest contingent and believes that the squad has the potential to get the country its best-ever medal haul.

While the IOA President said she has great expectations from team India, she doesn't want to put any pressure on the team. "I don't want to pressurise the athletes but I want team India to give their best. I will be very delighted if my expectations are matched since that would mean that our athletes have given 100 percent effort. They should compete without any pressure," she added.

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Indian contingent

The IOA President pointed out that the India contingent is 923 strong including 657 athletes and 266 coaches and support staff. "India will compete in 40 disciplines. I am aware that the preparations has been well planned, although IOA is not directly involved in the preparation of the athletes. Things are handled by respective sports federations and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports through the Sports Authority of India."

She also added that while the pandemic was a challenge, for some it was an extra year that emerged as an opportunity. "Covid-19 affected the world and sportspersons across the globe. It is possible that some have not made it to the competition due to the passage of time and because of their injury but the delay has also given us the chance to unearth some exciting talent. Athletes had an extra year of getting training experience," Usha said.

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Along with the expectation of higher medal count, Usha hopes for more support from corporates for sports.

"This year we have seen increased interest from the corporates coming forward in support of team India for Asian Games. Apart from our long standing partners including Reliance Foundation, JSW Inspire, Adani Sportsline, Manyavar, Amul, Borosil, Sports For All (SFA), we are happy that Samsonite, Skechers, and Hotel Leela have joined this year to support our teams," she said.

The principal sponsors include JSW Inspire, Reliance Foundation, Adani Sportsline and Samsonite, while associate sponsors and partners are Borosil, Skechers, Liberty, Amul, SFA, Inox Group, and The Leela Palace New Delhi.

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"In terms of sponsorship revenue, we are much better this year than the past. We are happy that several corporates have joined us in supporting Olympic sports which is keeping in line with the growing interest for such sports. We will see greater support in the coming years from corporates," Usha said.