Don't expect miracle at Olympics: Kalmadi

NEW DELHI, July 21: Choosing not to make false promises to the nation just a fortnight before the Olympic Games, Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi has categorically said that sports lovers of the country should not expect any miracle in China. "Our senior team was the runners up in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and the juniors have won the Asia Cup just a few days back. We have to now sit up and make the roadmap for hockey," he said. "Things are otherwise also moving well in Indian sports but don't expect too many medals in China," said Kalmadi at the book release of 'Olympics: The India Story' by Boria Majumdar and Nalin Mehta last night. "Archers and shooters are looking in good stead though," he said. Kalmadi said the IOA was focussing on the Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi in 2010 after which 2012 London Olympics would be the target for India. "The Government has sanctioned Rs 700 crore for the 2010 Commonwealth Games which will be used on 310 days of training of athletes. We have to ensure good Games in 2010 in Delhi which will form a base for our performance in the London Olympics. "We've to be at least second in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi after which we will charge up for London," he added. Kalmadi also appealed to the corporates to come forward and support the Olympic sports instead of going gaga over cricket to realise India's Olympic dream. "The industries should come forward. They don't realise that even one gold medal in Olympics will give them so much mileage," he said. Kalmadi said it was the time to make a roadmap for Indian hockey as the senior and junior teams were doing extremely well. IOA General Secretary Randhir Singh also echoed Kalmadi's sentiments and said cricket hogs all the limelight while it was time that corporates concentrate on the Olympic disciplines. "We are far behind in the Olympic disciplines, the kind of money that's needed is not there as cricket hogs all the limelight," Randhir said. "But we will introduce a value education programme like China and other countries when International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogges arrives in Pune during the Commonwealth Youth Games in October," he said.

Source: http://sports.indiatimes.com/Dont_expect_miracle_in_China/articleshow/3264210.cms