Expressing optimism ahead of next week's meeting between the Indian Olympic Association and International Olympic Committee at Lausanne, snooker ace Aditya Mehta said the interest of Indian sportspersons should be kept in mind of all concerned.
"We are now part of the Asian Indoor Games and hopefully everything goes well between IOA and IOC. We are keeping our fingers crossed. We are hoping to at least go to the (June 29 - July 6) Asian Indoor Games (Incheon, Korea)," Mehta told reporters here today.
The May 15 meeting between the officials representing the Indian Olympic body, the sports ministry and the world organisation has been convened to find a roadmap for the re-admission of India into the Olympic fold from which it has been suspended by the IOC.
"They have to think about the sports persons. Its something big for us. And this is just for the Asian Indoor Games. I am thinking further ahead and for all the other sports - for the Asian Games, the Olympics," said the 27-year-old Asian snooker champion who is making preparations for his fourth straight year in the world pro circuit.
"You need the right kind of people to be pushing forward. I am pretty sure and confident that the meeting would go well because there is no way we are going to jeopardise the future of our sports people over something as trivial as this," added the Mumbai-based player who is ranked 73rd in the world.
Mehta, who became only the second cueist from the country to make a 147 break in snooker at the selection trials for the Asian Indoor Games in Bangalore a few days ago, said Indians could not only win the team gold again but also in the individual event.
"Last time (in 2009 at Ho Chi Minh City) we won the team gold - myself, Manan (Chandra) and Brajesh (Damani). We can probably repeat that performance and also get something in the individual event too," he remarked confidently.
