It is a long journey from Rio de Janeiro to India, but Mustafa Ghouse does not sound remotely tired. The CEO of JSW Sports returns from the Olympic Games a proud man, with a bronze medal and a historic performance on the athletics track to boast of, among other things.
A dozen JSW Sports -supported athletes qualified for these Games, producing an outcome “way above any level of expectation” at the end of the fortnight. In this interview with Sportstar , hours after his arrival from Brazil, Ghouse speaks of JSW 's Rio experience. He discusses the successes, the disappointment of the Narsingh Yadav episode, and the road ahead.
The excerpts:
1. There were 12 JSW-supported athletes at the Olympic Games. Sakshi Malik won a bronze (women's 58kg freestyle wrestling), Lalita Babar finished 10th in the steeplechase final, and Vikas Krishan made it to the quarters. How would you assess this campaign? What were your expectations heading into Rio?
A: We're quite happy with the way the Olympics played out. First of all, it's a huge achievement for us as an organisation to have 12 athletes representing the country. We're only 2.5-3 years into our programme. No one can predict medals but the fact that they were in a position to qualify and be there is a huge achievement for us. We're happy on that front. With regard to their performance at the Games, Avtar Singh just making it in judo was a big deal for us. It showed there was potential in that sport. Everyone was wondering why we picked a sport like judo. It was off everyone's radar. Obviously, Lalita's performance was immense; becoming the first Indian to make it to an Olympic track final after 32 years is a big deal. We expected a little more from her in the final, but it was her second fastest time ever. We can't expect too much always.
We're happy with her performance overall. We're a bit disappointed with Seema Punia. We thought she'd make the final. She has done better in the past. No excuses but it was a rainy and cold day. Everyone in her group struggled to throw the distances they were used to. Either way, we expected her to make the final. Vikas is always a tough competitor. He had a tough draw in the medal bout. It was good that he was in that position. The Uzbeki lad he was up against (Bektemir Melikuziev) was a tough competitor.
Then in the wrestling, we had that heartbreak for Vinesh Phogat. We genuinely believed she was a medal prospect here and she will be in the future. The girl she lost to (Sun Yanan) went on to win bronze, if that's any indication.
I'm incredibly elated for Sakshi. She had a tough draw all the way through and she kept fighting and winning from behind. She showed a lot of character and grit. She's a great girl; she's worked really hard over the last three years. She keeps her head down and keeps working. She doesn't make a fuss about anything. She takes everything in her stride.
Hardeep Singh was there in the Greco-Roman but this was more of an exposure Games for him. We're not yet up to international level in Greco-Roman and he did well to qualify. It has given him a lot of confidence. He was on the flight back with me yesterday and he's already a different person to who he was two weeks ago.
I don't know what to say about Narsingh (Yadav). To have it swing against us the night before was beyond shattering. That's a tough one to digest still. Sandeep Tomar had a tough draw but he fought really well. That's all we can ask for, that they give it their all. And he did that. His bout was closer than the score suggests.
2. Can you give us an insight into what sort of difference JSW 's support has made to the athletes at the Rio Olympics? Can you give us examples?
A: We've brought a more professional approach to the way things were being carried out for these athletes. Look at a sport like wrestling...even though we'd had success with Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt, the younger lot only got that support after they made it. To be able to get that from when they were nowhere in the picture...Sandeep Tomar had been nowhere in the picture; he had always been the third wrestler in his category, behind Amit Kumar and Rahul Aware. For him to be getting consistent support with regard to his nutrition, his fitness programme, or having a physio with him full-time has really helped him.
It's the same for Sakshi, Avtar, everyone. We feel we've been able to bring a bit more structure into their daily programmes. It's not about just rocking up to a competition and expecting magic to happen. It's what you do every day. We've been getting coaches from different parts of the world to work with these guys, whether on a part-time basis or whether it's having our boys and girls spend time with them; we've had someone talk to them about the mental side of things, and had someone dedicated to work with sports science and strength and conditioning. Every athlete gets the same support. We don't differentiate between any of them. This was about doing the simple things right.
3. What kind of things were athletes asking you for? Was there anything that you found was mainly lacking?
A: They really liked the fact that a structured programme was provided. They liked the fact that they didn't have to bother about their day to day stuff because it was taken care of. They could spend all their time focusing on training and recovery and rehab.
4. Is it correct that you bought business class tickets for some of your athletes?
A: (Laughs) Sudha Singh, Lalita Babar and O.P. Jaisha were flown down business class. Because there was a specific time-frame we were looking at. We didn't want them to go there too early. The coach wanted them to go only two-three days before the semifinals of the 3000m steeplechase. Keeping that in mind and not wanting them to be too tired on the flight, we flew them down business class.
5. How much of a difference do things like this make?
A: The thing is that this is something people got to know about. The fact is that every time they go for a competition, we make sure that we give them good flights, good hotels, and sufficient allowances to not have to worry about things. Things that are considered normal in cricket or tennis are not normal when you look at wrestling or track and field. Athletes are used to travelling in flights that take hours to reach their destination, used to staying in hotels which are not the best, or used to eating whatever they get. These are things we were not ready to compromise on. It helps them perform better.
Why does it have to happen if they only win an Olympic medal or achieve international success? That's something we're always very clear about, whether it's with the football team (Bengaluru FC) or this programme. We have to make sure that the preparation is 100%. That's the only thing we know we can control.
6. You stood by Narsingh Yadav throughout the whole episode of his positive dope test and the subsequent NADA panel hearing. And you have declared your support for him even after the CAS report. How hard was it to take what happened in Rio, his being banned hours before his bout?
A: It's probably the hardest thing I've had to deal with in the last three years. Till that decision was announced, everyone was under the impression that it was all fine, and that it (the WADA appeal to the CAS) was more a formality than anything else. It was a definite shocker for all of us. We were there with him when the news broke and I know what he's been through. We're going to do everything we can to appeal this.
7. The CAS, in its report, has categorically dismissed the sabotage theory. It has looked at the test readings and labelled the ingestion of the substance "intentional". What is your response to that? What would be your course of action next?
A: We don't agree with that. I know that it's not intentional. We will follow whatever procedures are required to appeal this.
8. JSW Sports currently supports 39 athletes as part of its Sports Excellence Programme. What is the road ahead? What would you be looking at doing, between now and the next Olympic Games?
A: We've already started working on Tokyo (the 2020 Olympics). The intent is to do better. We know where we're short, and what we need to work on. We had no expectations from Rio. To have 12 athletes there and come away with a medal is way above any level of expectation. But four years down the road, we want to do more and we want to do better. The intent is to learn from this.
9. What have you learnt from Rio? Is there anything you'd have done differently?
A: We have to work harder. Our athletes were all young. Barring Vikas, Seema and Sudha, no one had been to an Olympics before. For the rest, this was their first time, their initiation. It's great that they've got this under their belt. Now they'll go into Tokyo with a lot more confidence and belief. It's important for us to build on that and work with the coaches and technical staff. In wrestling, there were so many upsets, which means the underdogs have stepped up their game. You can't sit back in any sport. Four years later, everyone is that much better. We have to find ways to help them keep improving.
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