Need to finish in top-10 by 2028 Olympics or else I�ll be a failure: Rijiju

NEW DELHI, Oct 10: Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said he would fail as a Sports Minister if India cannot finish inside the top 10 in the medals tally by 2028 Olympics.

Rijiju said with India set to become the third largest economy in a few year�s time, the country cannot lag behind in sports and the prevailing mediocrity in management of National Sports Federations (NSF) is �unacceptable�.

�Our country is set to become the third-largest economy in the world by 2022 or 2024, we will be in top three in many fields in the next four-five years. There is no reason why we cannot do well in Olympics,� Rijiju said while unveiling the logo of India House to be established in Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics.

�2020 Olympics is too near but by 2024 or in 2028, India should be in top 10 in medals tally. It is our target. If India cannot do this, I will feel my becoming Sports Minister is of no use,� he added.

The Sports Minister asked the IOA to ensure that the standard of governance in NSFs is high. He especially warned that no athlete�s career should be ruined because of any official or coach. � PTI