India Test captain Virat Kohli has backed Indian athletes currently taking part in the Rio Olympics. Fully aware of the hardships faced, Kohli threw his weight behind the Indian contingent and urged everyone to support them. Kohli, a keen follower of sports, said the athletes must get credit for the way they compete. “In an event like Olympics, we have to understand;firstly we need to look at how these athletes prepare. They give their heart and soul and for some people to just ignore what they do, I think it is very hurtful. We need to give credit.
He said it was unfair to compare the performance of Indian athletes with others as there is a vast gulf in the facilities available in India and other countries.
“Even in cricket, you can't perform every game and you don't win every series. These guys go and give 100 per cent effort in what they do, we understand that. Some people don't even have 10% of the facilities that sportsmen from other countries have. And then they sit and compare in our country.”
He added that an athlete should not just be judged on the basis of the medals he wins, but his performance and commitment must be taken into account. “They're giving their 120 per cent effort, and at the end of the day, that is what matters. Once someone wins a medal, that's a big deal because we understand that we don't have those kinds of facilities, but still these guys work as hard as anyone else in the world. They try and go and win a medal for us.
While all is not yet lost as gymnast Dipa Karmakar and steeplechaser Lalita Babar have qualified for the finals and with badminton and wrestling to follow, Kohli added that people must hope for the best. “I think we just need to stay positive with all the events that are left. We must give credit to the guys who have gone on and competed. If you see the disparity in facility, you will yourself know what you're talking about.
“Hats off to the guys who go there and compete and are there in the mix because it's so hard with no preparation and facility, it's so hard to be at that level. But still they go out there and give their heart and soul for the country and we should appreciate that.”
