Kolkata: Star Indian paddler G Sathiyan will be missing the Japanese support after the Tokyo Olympics Minister Tamayo Marukawa announced on Thursday that the quadrennial event will have no spectators due to the surge in COVID cases in the country.
The Tokyo Olympics is barely two weeks away and the decision comes in after a meeting between the members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and local organizers. The Japanese capital has also been put under a new state of emergency starting from July 12 to August 22.
“Certainly, always loved the Japanese crowd as I have also played the Japanese League. I have had a lot of support in Japan. Would certainly miss them,” Sathiyan told Sportslight Media from Tamil Nadu. The 27-year-old became the first Indian paddler to feature in the Japanese T-League when he took the table for Okayama Rivets last year.
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International fans were already barred from the Tokyo Olympics months ago. Earlier, it was announced that 50 per cent of spectators will be allowed at the Tokyo Olympics venues but the new state of emergency cancelled all those plans.
Olympics have always been all about spectators with the stands flocking with flags of different colours. Sathiyan, having played without crowds several times earlier is used to it now and stated it won’t make much of a difference to him in Tokyo.
“But as I have had experience before in international events playing without the crowd, I am kind of used to it and adapt to a new environment without spectators,” said World No.37, who will be making his Olympics debut in Tokyo.
At a time when the whole world is suffering from the deadly virus, Sathiyan reiterated that the Tokyo Olympics happening in such a tough time it itself a great thing. “Olympics happening itself is a great thing in this pandemic,” opined the current national champion.
“It was also expected to be held with reduced fans or no fans at all as these are extraordinary times. For me playing in debut Olympics is a great feeling,” concluded the star paddler. Besides Sathiyan, Achanta Sharath Kamal, Manika Batra and Sutirtha Mukherjee are the other Indian paddlers at the Tokyo Olympics.
