Virat Kohli defends achievements of Indian athletes who have competed at Rio 2016 but have not won

India have just completed a victory over hosts West Indies in the 3^rd Test, thus sealing the series and setting themselves up with a chance to regain No.1 spot on the Test rankings. Among various things, captain Virat Kohli put his full backing behind the Indian contingent currently competing at the Rio Olympics in the press conference that followed the victory. He stressed on the credit that should be given to athletes just for representing India on the world stage. He tried to explain that an Olympic medal, though a “big thing”, should not be seen as the only criterion to judge the athletes.

He said, “In an event like the Olympics, you have to see how these athletes prepare. They give their heart and soul. And for some people to ignore what they do, that’s hurtful. We need to give credit. Even in cricket, you can’t perform every game, you can’t win every series.”

Kohli and his team do face their fair share of criticism, but that gets almost made up by the plaudits showered on them. Kohli tried to highlight how most of the Olympic athletes’ careers are spent preparing in the shadows, for a short sprint or a routine, that can sometimes be over within seconds. A judgment formed on the short performance seen on the Olympics stage is unfair, stressed Kohli.

Disparity in training facilities is a big factor: Kohli

Kohli expressed his disappointment with that section of fans who have expressed bitterness at the fact that no medal has been accrued to the country at Rio 2016. He asked that the athletes’ achievements be seen with how the prepare in perspective. He spoke about how athletes in other countries are afforded facilities that are much superior than in India.

He said, “India’s Olympic athletes give their 100% in what they do and we understand that. Some of them don’t have 10% of the facilities that sportsmen in other country have. And then we sit in our country and compare. That’s disappointing, these athletes are giving their all in getting a medal for us.

“I think we need to stay positive with all the events that are left and we must give credit to the guys that have gone and competed as well. Because it’s so hard for them. If you see the training facilities in other countries you will see the disparity.”

Kohli and his boys will now head over to the Port of Spain for the 4^th and last Test in the series which starts from next Thursday, while the Indian contingent continue their campaign in Rio, with a big slew of events lined up for Sunday.