After months of speculation, the inevitable happened - Japan's PM Shinzo Abe announced the postponement of the Olympics by a year.?
As coronavirus pandemic bring world to a standstill, the Asian country couldn't find it feasible to host the Games which were scheduled for July-August.?
The Indian Olympic-bound contingent has hailed the move claiming 'Life comes first, sport can wait.'? It was the collective view of India¡¯s stalwarts such as M C Mary Kom and Saina Nehwal, as they lauded the Tokyo Games¡¯ postponement.
¡°The situation right now is not good. Life always comes first, everything else can wait. Players¡¯ safety is paramount. Everyone who took this decision factored this in. I think it¡¯s good,¡± said boxer Mary Kom.
Saina, who was racing against time to qualify for Tokyo, said, ¡°happy that it¡¯s postponed even though some of us haven¡¯t qualified. We are eager to know what the qualification (process) would be like going ahead.¡±
Ace wrestler Bajrang Punia, who recently announced he will be contributing his six-month salary to fight coronavirus, was also happy with the organisers' decision to put the Games'off by a year.?
¡°It¡¯s a good decision because everyone is disturbed. Athletes¡¯ health is paramount. No one is training properly. We first have to save people from this epidemic,¡± said Punia.??
It was meant to happen and we wait another year for the Olympics. Not much else could have been done.?