Tokyo 2020: PT Usha Feels Kamalpreet & Neeraj Chopra Are Medal ‘Prospects’ In Athletics For India In Olympics

The legendary sprinter feels that Indian athletes like Tajinderpal, Kamalpreet and Neeraj Chopra could bring home some medals for India.

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Tokyo 2020: The Payyolli Express, PT Usha has opened up about her expectations with the Indian athletics contingent at Olympics 2020. The legendary sprinter feels that Indian athletes like Tajinderpal, Kamalpreet and Neeraj Chopra could bring home some medals for India. She praised the Indian athletes who have qualified for Tokyo 2020. 

“The performances of our athletes while achieving Olympic qualification standard was heartening and if they can better those performances, it will be really good,” PT Usha told The Indian Express.

Kamalpreet, the 25-year-old thrower from Punjab also caught Usha's attention. She impressed one and all by her 66.59m throw at Patiala last month.“If Kamalpreet can repeat or better her performance in Tokyo, it can land her in a good place.”

Usha also spoke about the javelin throw prospects of India where she mentioned the U-20 Champion Neeraj Chopra. “That way Neeraj Chopra is a prospect. The javelin thrower is looking bright to shine in Tokyo,” Usha said. 

 

Thank you so much ma'am for your warm Birthday wishes. https://t.co/ikZHJ6qcj2

— P.T. USHA (@PTUshaOfficial) June 27, 2021

“That performance (by (Tajinderpal) is good and if he can maintain his form, he can also finish at the top," PT Usha added.

“Tokyo Olympic Games will be different in many ways. Athletes have to perform before an empty stadium as spectators have been banned due to the surge in Covid-19. I don’t think protocol will allow the athletes to mingle like in early editions. Japan, being hosts too, will do well,” Usha concluded.

The legendary sprinter has represented India at the 1980 Moscow Games in 100m, in 1984 LA Games in 400m hurdles. Usha also she set the national record of 54.42 seconds in 400m hurdles at the 1988 Seoul Games. That record is yet to be broken.