NEW DELHI: Nita Ambani, a sports administrator and member of the International Olympic Committee, expressed her confidence that India will achieve a double-digit medal haul at the Paris Olympics.
During the India House inauguration at La Villette, Ambani also shared her optimism that the day when India hosts the Olympics is not far off, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plan to bid for the 2036 Olympics.
Reflecting on India's record-breaking performance at the Tokyo Olympics, Ambani highlighted the country's progress and potential ahead of the Paris Games.
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"We are going to do very well. Forty-seven percent of our athletes are girls. All for women power and all for our young boys and girls, we are rooting and cheering for them. I hope we can see double digits in medals for the first time. Go India go, make India proud," she said in an exclusive interview with PTI.
In October, PM Modi announced India’s ambitious plan to bid for the 2036 Olympics, with the aim of fulfilling the aspirations of 1.4 billion people. This vision was reiterated by Ambani during the star-studded opening ceremony of India House, which was also attended by BCCI secretary Jay Shah and IOC officials.
"India has arrived. It is time that the flame that was first lit in Athens must light the sky in our ancient land — Bharat. The day is not far when India will host the Olympic Games. Let this be our collective resolve at the opening of the India House," she stated.
India House represents a significant milestone, serving as a dedicated space to honor and celebrate Indian athletes during the Paris 2024 Olympics.
"For the first time, India has its own house at the Paris 2024 Olympics. It's a place where we are going to honor our athletes, celebrate their achievements, and wish them well. We will celebrate our heritage and our culture, with many of our artisans present and cultural programs scheduled. This is going to be a home away from home for our athletes," Ambani elaborated.
She was inspired to establish India House based on her experiences at previous Olympics, where she noticed the absence of a dedicated space for Indian athletes.
"When I went to Brazil, Korea Winter Olympics, and then Tokyo, we didn't have an India House. I just felt that India, with its 1.4 billion people, needed a house of its own. So that's when I started thinking about having an Indian House at the Olympics for our athletes and everyone to see what the spirit of India really is," she explained.
