Mansukh Mandaviya in takes stock of India's preparation for Paris Olympics 2024 during a meeting with PT Usha

Ahead of the much-awaited Paris Olympics 2024, newly appointed Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday held a review meeting on India's preparations for the Olympic in New Delhi. 

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This was the first time that the Sports Minister met Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha. Apart from Mansukh Mandaviya and PT Usha, Sports Secretary Sujata Chaturvedi, SAI Director General Sandip Pradhan and Minister of State for Sports Raksha Khadse were also present in this meeting. IOA President PT Usha shared his experiences after talking to Mansukh Mandaviya. 

"I today visited the IOA officials for the first time where they briefed me about India's preparation for Paris Olympics. The government is committed to extend all possible support," Mandaviya said in a brief address to the media.

Along with the Sports Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya will also hold the post of Union Labor and Employment Minister. Mandaviya replaces Anurag Thakur, who held the post of Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports during PM Modi's second term.

Mandaviya took oath as Union Minister during the oath-taking ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday.

'Already 97 athletes have qualified'

"The Sports Minister today visited our IOA along with the Minister of State for Sports and I am so happy that they wanted to know about IOA and about the Paris preparation. We have done everything good this time and I have briefed him everything. We will be in contact every week and I hope that this good for our Olympic athletes," PT Usha said.

"We have done everything for sports persons. Our first preference were the athletes, whatever the players want we have done this time. So we are expecting more medals this than Tokyo. I don't want to put any number and give tension to the players."

"Already 97 athletes have qualified, and we are expecting around 115 to 120 athletes to represent India in Paris Olympics," Usha added.

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In the recently held Lok Sabha elections, Mandaviya had contested from Porbandar in Gujarat. He won by a margin of 3,83,360 votes. Mandaviya defeated Lalit Vasoya of the Indian National Congress. 

The Paris Olympics 2024 will begin on July 26 and run through August 11.