PT Usha, Anju Bobby George welcome Tokyo Olympics' postponement

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach has agreed "100%" to a proposal of postponing the Tokyo Olympics for about one year until 2021 because of the COVID-19 outbreak, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday.
Indian legends PT Usha and Anju Bobby George welcomed the decision.
"I'm the happiest person in the world now that Olympics has been postponed for one year.No one should feel down and out. The decision to organize it for one year is apt decision instead of two years gap," said Usha whose biggest moment was in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics when she missed bronze medal by 1/100 of a second in women's 400m hurdles event.
"Some people even wanted to go ahead with Indian Grand Prix, that too for national campers alone. The decision to conduct IGPs was a poor one but better sense prevailed, and athletes are the relieved lot," she said about Indian athletics.
"The postponement is the best way to overcome the current situation. Not just ordinary people, all have been affected in a one way or the other way. And, particularly, for the athletes who are participating in the Olympics it's a win-win situation. Just imagine my trainee's Jisna Mathew's predication. For the past one month, she has been preparing for Tokyo Games all alone as she has been named in the in the 4x400m women's and mixed relay squads. I congratulate all who took the decision to postpone even though it might be painful. Of course, Olympics is big, really big but human lives are bigger. I thank all for the decision once again," Usha concluded.
Usha's biggest moment was in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics when she missed bronze medal by 1/100 of a second in women's 400m hurdles event.
The charm of Olympics has been saved: Anju
"As chairman of Athletic Commission of Indian Olympic Association, I have requested for minimum one-year postponement of Tokyo Games. Athletes, including Olympic and world champions, even do not have access to stadia facilities not just in India but the world over," said Anju, the lone Indian athlete to have won a medal in Paris World Championships
"It is scary situation for athletes too and mentally too they have been down. By postponing the Tokyo Games, International Olympic Committee, the organisers and Japanese government have done a commendable job otherwise the charm of the Olympics would have been lost. By the decision I'm sure it (the charm) has been saved," said Anju who won the bronze medal in women's long jump in 2003.
"It's only for one year and it's not a big deal. Imagine how the decision will save the lives of not just the athletes but millions all over the word. It's tough time, we have to stay indoors and save the world from this pandemic. We can't blame anyone for the present situation all that is we need to be very careful and save us and others too by staying indoors. I feel, Olympics, if they had organized would have missed many stars and would have lost in many ways. I'm glad better sense prevailed, finally," said Anju who represent Indian in 2004 Athens Olympic Games and finished fifth with an effort of 6.83m.