NEW DELHI: India is looking at disciplines beyond the traditional sports for greater Olympic success in the coming future. The focus is on Los Angeles 2028. The change in focus has come about due to the country's underwhelming campaign at the 2020 Tokyo Games. The authorities had projected a double-digit medal tally in their internal assessments.
TOI has learned that the government wants to start the talent identification process with emphasis on medal prospectus from the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games onwards, focusing primarily on the Los Angeles Olympics. While the efforts would be to better the Tokyo count in Paris.
The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) offices under the Sports Authority of India's (SAI) banner have already started work in this direction. The government understands there is limited time between the Commonwealth and Asian Games next year and the 2024 Paris Games.
Since the majority who represented India in Tokyo are likely to compete in Paris in most traditional sports, unless there's an injury or dip in performance, the recent rejig of the TOPS developmental group indicates that the govt is looking past the Paris edition to develop a strong contingent for LA.
Apart from traditional sports namely archery, boxing, shooting, badminton, wrestling, hockey, weightlifting and athletics, the government looks to develop sailing, table tennis, swimming and rowing for 2028 and beyond. Sailing has recently got the government's support.
The MOC has approved proposals from four Tokyo-returned sailors to let them train and compete overseas in the run-up to the Hangzhou Asiad, clearing more than Rs 2.75 crore as part of their preparations. The authorities are mindful of the fact that both boxing and weightlifting run the risk of missing out on the LA Games.
