By NNN-PTI,
London : The Beijing Olympics are not yet over but people of Indian origin here are convinced that India’s medal tally will be much higher in London 2012 than that notched by Abhinav Bindra, Sushil Kumar and Vijender Kumar at Beijing.
The London-based steel baron, Lakshmi Mittal, has already committed funds to support the Indian contingent for the London event through his Mittal Champions Trust.
The six-member trust is headed by Mittal and includes his son Aditya, son-in-law Ashish Bhatia, tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi, cricketer Rahul Dravid and administrator Manisha Malhotra.
It funds specialised training and provides an overall support system to athletes.
Apart from the large Indian community in Britain, one Briton who will be quietly happy if India does much better at the London 2012 Olympics is none other than Sebastian Coe, the 12-time world record holder in Athletics.
He is the chairman of the London organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG).
Coes mother was of Indian origin, but he visited India for the first time to canvass Indias support just before London won the bid in Singapore in 2004 to host the 2012 Olympics.
In fact, according to Mihir Bose, BBCs sports editor, Coes connections with India stood Britain in good stead when he went around Commonwealth countries to canvas support for Londons bid. The other two contenders were Paris and Madrid.
Bose wrote: “During the bid Coe rediscovered his roots, which played a crucial part in London winning.
“Coe’s mother was of Indian origin but Coe had never visited India. He was invited by India to run for them in the 1988 Seoul Olympics when Britain refused to choose him. But Coe declined.