‘If we work like this, India will be a force at the 2028 Olympics’
We already have a standard and some very young children have been able to make a mark. Besides 9,000 participants in the next games, we will have 100 plus hours of HD broadcast over 10 days. We have created two age-groups, U-17 and U-21. The school games are now the youth games. Idea is to bridge the gap from potential to podium.
What are the challenges for Indian sport to reach top level?
One is teamwork between the various stake-holders. The education and sports departments must work in synch like they did in the first games. The other was federations and School Games Federation of India coming together. Now, we are taking the best from the federations and SGFI. Similarly, the talent will come from colleges now.
The challenge was also to think out of the box, for our administrators. The basic idea is we create an environment. If rules don’t permit, we need to amend them. I am very happy my office and SAI are doing that. We’re able to do many things not thought of till now.
Where do we stand on the road to 2020 Tokyo Olympics?
I’m very proud of our TOPs (Target Olympic Podium scheme) research. It goes into every detail of athletes. Mapping their performance is fantastic. It blows the mind of people, federations come and see things. They are taking advantage of TOPs. The athletes are getting the advantage. We know the past, present and future performance of the athlete as much as the athlete himself. So, we’re able to provide the right intervention.
In 2020, we are hopeful we’ll be able to put up a good mark. But remember performances don’t happen overnight, 2020 is very close. When we put together a system, it carries on. We are confident of 2024 and 2028. I challenge everyone for 2028 if we are allowed to work like this.
Your view on doping cases in Indian track and field
We’re concerned about any malpractices in any sector. This is something (reform) that needs to come from the society. It should start from parents, ‘we will not cheat’. When I look at myself in the mirror and say ‘am I a champion’? I need to know that answer, ‘have I cheated and become a champion or am I a real champion inside me?’ That is very critical. Too much of incentives are coming in and they certainly become incentives for a few to cheat. Both education and measures to control are there, which we have put in place.
In SAI, we are giving more weightage to coaches. They are taking part in decision making. We are upgrading their stages, giving them higher salaries. In the last governing body meeting of SAI, we broke down the ceiling for national academies and a 100 percent increase was made for all staff with a rider – DG-SAI can further increase it to any level. That is to open up (performances). Then diet money – the diet money of a 15-year-old was 1/3 of an 18-year-old in the same sport. We got it to the same level because a 14-year-old needs as much nutrition as anyone else.