IOC president has words of encouragement for India

"How is the Indian team shaping up? I am expecting some good performances. It is nice to see Indian athletes among the early arrivals. I wish them all the best for the Games," Thomas Bach told Rakesh Gupta, India's chef de mission.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, Thomas Bach withthe chef de mission of the Indian contingent, Rakesh Gupta, in Rio deJaneiro on Thursday.

The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, had encouraging words for the Indian contingent, during a breakfast meeting at the Games Village in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday.

The chef de mission of the Indian contingent, Rakesh Gupta, said in a statement that the IOC president enquired about the Indian contingent at the Olympic Village, where he had breakfast with some officials and athletes.

"How is the Indian team shaping up? I am expecting some good performances. It is nice to see Indian athletes among the early arrivals. I wish them all the best for the Games," Thomas Bach had said.

The IOC president had earlier addressed a meeting of the chef de missions from around the world and was a given a report about the preparations. The Village itself was still getting the finishing touches.

With the Indian contingent arriving in batches, Rakesh Gupta was happy to note that there was a lot of vegetarian food at the Village, and more was expected to be added over the next few days.

Shooters Jitu Rai, Prakash Nanjappa, Gurpreet Singh, Kynan Chenai, Manavjit Sandhu, Apurvi Chandela, Ayonika Paul, walkers Khushbir Kaur, Sapana Punia, Sandeep Kumar, Manish Rawat, shot putter Manpreet Kaur, boxers Shiva Thapa and Manoj Kumar, had all reached Rio, along with many coaches and doctors.

The chef de mission observed that many were training or competing. And those whose competition start later, like tennis, would be arriving in the first week of August.

The Indian contingent has been housed next to the host Brazil in the Athletes Village, set against the backdrop of a mountain. "The common facilities are excellent with a swimming pool right next to our building. The Olympic Plaza and gym are close," Rakesh Gupta said.