The Hyderabad-based shuttler also exuded confidence that "in a couple of years, there will be a lot more players who will represent the country and also get medals for the country."
The apex body said the players can appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days.
The expedition, of 2200 kilometre drive, will begin from Greater Noida on January 14 and end on January 26.
The comments by Canadian IOC member Richard Pound to British broadcaster the BBC came as Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared a state of emergency on Thursday for Tokyo and surrounding prefectures.
The torches have travelled to 14 places since November 2 and were scheduled to be exhibited on Thursday in Akiruno City.
The 37-year-old rider, who was representing the Hero MotoSports in one of the world's biggest rallies, crashed on Wednesday and is being kept under a 24-hour observation.
In recent years, India has hosted some of the biggest hockey events globally, and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) awarded Hockey India with the hosting rights for the Junior Men's World Cup 2021.
The Indian team, comprising Olympic hopefuls PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal and B Sai Praneeth, have been allotted training timings.
In a series of tweets, Olympic bronze-medallist Saina expressed her displeasure at the restrictions imposed by BWF as part of its COVID-19 protocols for the bio-security bubble.
On December 24 last year, BFI had given a three-month extension to its office-bearers and resolved to conduct elections by February after the process had to be put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Punia, who qualified for the Tokyo Games in the men's freestyle 65kg category, has been training at Cliff Kean Wrestling Club in Michigan since December 4.
No positive tests have been recorded so far for players who were tested on arrival and who are currently in quarantine, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) informed on Tuesday.
The Union Sports Minister admitted that the calendar for the games was in jeopardy due to COVID-19 and that the infrastructure was also affected.
Bindra created history by winning the country's first and only individual Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games.
On Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he would consider calling a state of emergency as new coronavirus cases surge to record numbers in Tokyo
Meanwhile, the Indian team, including Olympic hopefuls Saina Nehwal, B Sai Praneeth and Kidambi Srikanth, on Sunday left for Thailand to compete in back-to-back BWF World Tour Super 1000 events.
Momota was looking forward to make his international comeback in Bangkok, a year after sustaining a career-threatening injury to his eye socket following a car accident on the way to Kuala Lumpur airport.
Apart from Denmark Open, SaarLorLux Super 100 was the only other event to be held last year since the BWF was forced to suspend the calender after the completion of the All England Championships in March.
The camp will take place at the Sports Authority of India campus and the core group will undergo a mandatory quarantine period before re-starting training as per SAI and Hockey India SOPs.
Speaking of Tokyo 2021, Bach reiterated his gratitude for the host's commitment and determination to organise the Games "in a safe and secure way for all the participants" that fits the post-coronavirus world.
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