Former Indian weightlifting team coach Pal Singh Sandhu is hopeful that world champion Mirabai Chanu will be on the podium in the 2020 Olympics.
Sandhu, the first Dronacharya Award winner weightlifter of the country, was speaking to reporters at the sidelines of an event at the Khelo India Youth Games in Guwahati.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
“The future of weightlifting in India is very bright,” he said expressing his excitement after witnessing the weightlifting scenario of the country.
“We have Mirabai Chanu, who is a world champion and with the grace of God, she will be on the podium in the 2020 Olympics,” he reiterated.
A competition manager at the Khelo India Youth Games, Sandhu lauded the youth games and said tournament like these would provide a good back-up of athletes for India’s future Olympic medals.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
“If the Khelo India Youth Games continues for 10 years, we will have a good back-up for our future Olympic medals,” he said.
“Now, the message has gone to the villages and schools that children should play in the Khelo India Youth Games,” he added.
“I think the Khelo India scheme is a very very good scheme,” Sandhu reiterated.
Sandhu, however, feels that India can unearth more talent if the inter-school games (nationally) are held two-three months before the Khelo India Youth Games.
“I feel inter-school games should be conducted nationally at least two-three months before the Khelo India Youth Games so that the states can unearth even more talent for the Khelo India Youth Games,” said Sandhu.
The former weightlifter, who competed for the first time in 1960/61, continues to be a part of the weightlifting circuit as a competition manager in various national and international tournaments in India.