It's time for India to bid for Olympics games, says Indian Olympic Association president P.T. Usha

P.T. Usha who took charge as IOA chief in December last year, said she was not at all surprised at India winning more than 100 medals in Hangzhou.

Buoyed by the record medal haul at the Hangzhou Asian Games, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president P.T. Usha on October 8 supported the government's plan to place a proposal to host the 2036 Olympics.

India won an unprecedented 107 medals, including 28 gold, in the games that ended on Sunday. In the Chinese city, the country saw an increase of 37 medals from the previous best achieved in the 2018 edition.

"After this record-breaking performance in the Hangzhou Asian Games, if our country's athletes, coaches and national federations work hard, I feel we can win double digit medals in the Paris Olympics," Usha told PTI here.

"The government is doing everything possible for the betterment of Indian sports and for the athletes. Our prime minister takes a lot of interest in the country's sports." She said the time has come for India to bid for the Olympics.

"We should bid for the 2036 Olympics. I am sure India will win more medals in the Paris Olympics than in Tokyo, and then, with the medals to show, we can host the Olympics," said the 59-year-old former track star fondly known as 'Payyoli Express'.

The government could formally express India's interest to host the 2036 Olympics during the International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai from October 15 to 17.

After recent reforms, the IOC has moved away from the traditional bidding process. After the interested countries place their proposal of interest, the IOC's Future Host Commission will identify and propose its preferred candidate to the Executive Board.