Let's not talk about boycott but dropping shooting from CWG also unfair: Sakshi Malik
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has hinted that boycotting the 2022 Commonwealth Games is an option after shooting as a sport was dropped from the event.
In Short
- Sakshi Malik didn't endorse the boycott by IOA
- Though Sakshi wants shooting to be included in the 2022 edition
- Sakshi said that her 1st goal is to qualify for Olympics 2020
2016 Rio Olympic bronze medallist wrestler Sakshi Malik has endorsed Abhinav Bindra’s views of not boycotting the 2022 Commonwealth Games and instead find a solution soon to avoid taking such a drastic step.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had last week proposed the boycott of Birmingham games for dropping shooting from the event.
"Boycotts don't win you influence. They just make you irrelevant and punish other athletes. Would be far better if IOA did a campaign to load the CWG committees with their people and allies and push for the inclusion of shooting onto the core list of sports for the future," Olympic champion Bindra had tweeted.
"Yes, I agree with what he (Bindra) has said. I would also say the same thing. Let us not talk about a boycott. It is obvious that one sport being chucked out, that too shooting where we have done so well not just in the CWG but also Olympics, will affect the entire contingent’s medal hopes. I would pray that there is no boycott and shooting is included in the games," Sakshi told AAJ TAK in an interview.
After winning the trials in Lucknow last week, the wrestler from Haryana is now looking forward to the World Championship in Kazakhstan in September. Qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics next year remains the top goal for Sakshi in Astana.
"Preparations for the World Championships are going on perfectly fine. I felt good in the trials and the goal is to qualify for the Olympics as soon as possible. The sooner you qualify the more time you get to prepare and focus for Tokyo. We are playing competitive matches amongst us to analyze the mistakes that we are making frequently in tournaments. Need to iron them out soon," Sakshi said after she was announced as a brand ambassador for Asics sportswear.
The 26-year-old is confident that all the medal hopefuls will qualify for the Tokyo Games. But, training partner Vinesh Phogat is the one she picks as a sure-shot medal-winning hope.
"I have huge hopes from Vinesh that she’ll win a medal in Tokyo for sure this time. She was unlucky to miss last time due to an injury. She has prepared really well and we will win maximum medals this time," says Sakshi.
The champion wrestler is training hard at home under the watchful eyes of her wrestler-husband Satyawart Kadian.
"Having not just a wrestler-husband but also a father-in-law who understands all the nuances of the sport is a huge plus. They support me in everything. The agony of a defeat or the joy of a victory, the training and hard work that goes behind the making of a medal winner, they know everything."