Mark my words, India will be in top 10 in 2028 Olympics: Rijiju

Gallery

MORE...

Sports

Harmanpreet Singh named FIH Player of the Year, PR Sreejesh gets best goalkeeper award

Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh has been named Player of the Year 2024

World Boxing medallist Gaurav Bidhuri to flag off 'Delhi Against Drugs' movement on Nov 17

U23 World Wrestling Championship: Chirag Chikkara wins gold as India end campaign with nine medals

FIFA president Infantino confirms at least 9 African teams for the 2026 World Cup

Hockey, cricket, wrestling, badminton, squash axed from 2026 CWG in Glasgow

FIFA : Over 100 female footballers urge FIFA to reconsider partnership with Saudi oil giant

MORE...

Mark my words, India will be in top 10 in 2028 Olympics: Rijiju

Last Updated : 09 Jun 2020 08:28:46 AM IST

Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju

Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that preparations are already underway with respect to the country targetting a top-10 finish at the 2028 Olympics.

India have historically underwhelmed at the multi-national event, as far as medals are concerned. In the last edition of the Olympics in Rio, Indian athletes returned home with just two medals -- PV Sindhu (silver) and Sakshi Malik (bronze) -- finishing 67th on the table.

The country has never managed to breach the double-digit mark with highest being six at London Olympics in 2012 -- two silvers and four bronze medals.

Despite such numbers, Rijiju said the country will be targetting a record medal haul at the 2028 Olympics. Pinning hopes on junior athletes, he also said that the whole country will witness the progress at 2024 Olympics.

"The 2024 Games is mid-term goal but the long term is 2028. When I became sports minister I had very limited talents, potential Olympic medalists," Rijiju said during a live Instagram session with Commonwealth gold medallist Manika Batra.

"In 2024, we will have a potential team which can get us maximum medals. But in 2028 I've made my mind very clear we have to be in top-10. And I'm not saying just like that. Our preparation has started."

"Junior athletes are our future champions, we have started our preparation in a solid way. We will see results in 2024 and will make rapid progress. But mark my words, India will be in top-10 in 2028."