Not much time to make changes for Tokyo: Bindra

Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra says there is not much time to either scout talent or make drastic changes in training structure of elite athletes preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

“Since there is hardly any time left to reap the benefits of long-term planning, possibility of making major changes are remote,” Bindra said here on the sidelines of an inauguration of rehabilitation centre at Fortis Escorts hospital.

Bindra is one of the eight members of a task force set up by the Sports Ministry in January to prepare an action plan for the next three Olympics. The panel was set up after a contingent of over 100 athletes won only two medals in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Bindra said the interim report has been prepared for the Tokyo Games and will be submitted to the ministry soon. “We have made recommendations and it is up to the government to take a call,” he said, adding there will be comprehensive report for the 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games.

“It is a huge canvas. It will take time to chalk out details,” he said. Besides Bindra, chief national coach Pullela Gopichand, former hockey captain Viren Rasquinha and hockey Dronacharya Baldev Singh of Haryana are on board.

The panel, whose convenor is Sandeep Pradhan, director general Sports Authority of Gujarat, has been approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The government has set up the panel to broad-base the existing system with focus on scouting talent and nurturing them to win glory at global competitions.

The task force has to make recommendations mainly on nine points, including spotting talent for core group and coaching staff for 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Infrastructure and scientific training methods are the other key areas.