P.T. Usha | J. Suresh
Q. Did you think a lot and discuss with family when the offer came?
A. This is not a family affair, it is a country affair. So, no thinking was required.
Q. How challenging will this role be?
A. The challenge is not as much (compared to when she was competing). People think the IOA post is so big, that is why it is so challenging. I do not think so.
Q. Do you feel the burden of expectations?
A. I am not saying that I can change everything within two days. It is challenging, no doubt. But as I told you, since the age of 13, my life has been only sports. I know everything that is happening in sports. I know the difficulties of sportspersons; how tough it is for a child to become successful at the international level. We will try to work for the betterment of sports and sportspersons.
Q. This is a different IOA. There is representation of athletes. How easy or difficult will it be to work in a new way?
A. You cannot change anything in a day; [change] will slowly come because the IOA has sportspersons now.
Q. You were elected unopposed—a 100m sprint with only you on the track.
A. I filed my nomination papers and thought somebody else would also be in the race. I guess all sportspeople wanted someone like me to lead the IOA. It is indeed an honour.
Q. Having won so many medals for India, every time you do something, all eyes are on you.
A. In the Asian Games (Seoul 1986), India won five gold medals. I won four of those. From the 14th position, India came to the 4th position (when Usha’s events were done).
But people would ask me why I did not get another gold? (She got silver in 100m). Expectations will always be there. That is why we want good interaction with all associations, coaches and athletes. They should tell us their problems and we will work on them.
Q. The Asian Games will happen in 2023 and the Paris Olympics in 2024.
A. Now that it has started with [Abhinav] Bindra and [Neeraj] Chopra, the habit to win at the Olympics will come.
Q. Will you be interacting with Olympic medallists to pick their brains?
A. We always interacted, even before I became IOA president. Be it Bindra, Chopra or P.V. Sindhu. I am always for them (athletes). Why should anything change because I have become IOA president?
Q. What is the most important thing that needs to be looked into in Indian sports?
A. People want medals when we are putting zero effort to win those. It is a paradox.
Q. What is the message you want to send as IOA president?
A. Sports for all. All for sports. There was nothing when I started, but I wanted to pursue and excel. And I did it. The athletes now, we are with them. If they want to achieve something, they can do it.