Tokyo Olympics: Team India coach Ravi Shastri throws weight behind Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka’s mental health battles
Team India head coach Ravi Shastri has offered his support to athletes Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka as the duo, who were…
Team India head coach Ravi Shastri has offered his support to athletes Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka as the duo, who were billed to make a huge mark at the Tokyo Olympics, exited early. Biles, the American gymnast, pulled out of the team competition before withdrawing from Thursday’s individual all-around competition. Osaka, the face of the Olympics in Tokyo, lost in the third round of the singles competition and cited the mental toll as one of the reasons for her exit.
Also Read: Tokyo Olympics: After Andy Murray, defending champion Simone Biles pulls out of team competition
Tokyo Olympics: Team India head coach Ravi Shastri took to Twitter to offer his support to athletes Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles after their early exits from the ongoing Summer Games in Tokyo. Shastri wrote that both have “earned the right and owe it to themselves” at a young age. He tweeted, “Take your time @Simone_Biles You have earned the right to owe it to yourself at this tender age. 48 hours or 48 days it might take. Just do it Champion. You owe no explanation to no one. @naomiosaka, you too. God bless you girls.”
Take your time @Simone_Biles. You have earned the right to owe it to yourself at this tender age. 48 hours or 48 days it might take. Just do it Champion. You owe no explanation to no one. @naomiosaka, you too. God bless you girls #Olympics pic.twitter.com/wMS7eV1UlX
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) July 29, 2021
Tokyo Olympics: Simone Biles has received support from across the globe for her decision, and took to Twitter to respond to who rooted for her. Bile wrote, “The outpouring [of] love & support I’ve received has made me realize I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which, I never truly believed before.” Michelle Obama was amongst the many to support the US athlete and the former First Lady wrote, “Am I good enough? Yes, I am. The mantra I practice daily. @Simone_Biles, we are proud of you and we are rooting for you.”
Tokyo Olympics: Naomi Osaka after her third-round exit conceded that the pressure of trying to win Olympic gold at home was a “bit much” after a 6-1, 6-4 loss to Marketa Vondrousova. Osaka had been struggling with her mental health and refused to attend press conferences during the French Open, before withdrawing altogether. She also skipped Wimbledon, saying she had been battling depression and anxiety, before returning in Tokyo for her first Olympics.
