PM interacts with Indian athletes' contingent bound for Tokyo Olympics

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with Indian athletes' contingent bound for Tokyo Olympics today through video conference. The interaction by the Prime Minister is an endeavour to motivate the athletes ahead of their participation at the games. Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Thakur, MoS Youth Affairs and Sports Nisith Pramanik and Law Minister Kiren Rijiju were also present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister motivated the athletes and thanked their families for their sacrifice. Talking to Deepika Kumari (Archery), the Prime Minister congratulated her for the Gold in the World Championship. The Prime Minister mentioned that her journey began with plucking mangoes through archery and enquired about her journey as a sportsperson. Modi lauded Pravin Jadhav (Archery) for staying on the path despite difficult circumstances. He also interacted with his family and praised their efforts.

Talking to Neeraj Chopra (Javelin Throw), the Prime Minister inquired about the athlete's experience with the Indian Army and also his recovery from injury. Modi asked the athlete to give his best without getting bogged down by the weight of expectation. With Dutee Chand (Sprint), Modi started with the meaning of her name that is 'brightness' and complimented her for spreading the light through her sporting skills. The Prime Minister asked her to forge ahead fearlessly as the entire India is behind the athletes. Modi asked Ashish Kumar (Boxing) why he chose Boxing. PM asked how he fought with both COVID-19 and kept with his training and also praised him for not wavering from his goal despite the loss of his father. The athlete recalled the support network of family and friends in the process of recovery. Modi recalled the occasion when cricketer Sachin Tendulkar lost his father in similar circumstances and how he gave tribute to his father through his sports.

The Prime Minister lauded Mary Kom for being a role model for many athletes. He also enquired how she was able to take care of her family and continue with her sport especially during the pandemic. With PV Sindhu, the Prime Minister enquired about her practice. He also asked the importance of diet in her training. PM asked her parents for advice and tips they want to give to parents who want to make their children a sportsperson. Wishing the athlete success in the Olympics the Prime Minister said that he too will have ice cream with her when he will welcome the athletes on their return.

Modi asked Elavenil Valarivan (Shooting) why she got interested in the sport. On a personal note, Modi talked to the shooter who was raised in Ahmedabad and greeted her parents in Tamil and recalled her early years as he was MLA from her area Mani Nagar. He enquired how she balances both her studies and sports training.

Modi talked to Saurabh Chaudhary (Shooting) of the role of yoga in improving concentration and mental poise. He asked the veteran player Sharath Kamal (Table Tennis) about the difference between previous and this olympics and learnt about the impact of pandemic on the occasion. Modi said that his vast experience will help the entire contingent. With another Table tennis ace Manika Batra (Table Tennis), the Prime Minister was full of praise for her for training the poor children in sport. He remarked about her practice of wearing tricolor in her hand while playing. He asked whether her passion for dancing acts as a stress buster in her sports.

While addressing the Indian athletes, the Prime Minister regretted the fact that he could not host the athletes due to the pandemic. He remarked that the pandemic has changed their practice and even the year of the Olympics. He recalled his Mann ki Baat address when he exhorted the citizens to cheer for their sportspersons in the Olympics. He noted the popularity of the #Cheer4India. He said that the whole country is behind them and the blessings of all the countrymen are with them. He informed that people can login to the NaMo app and cheer for their sportspersons where special provisions have been made for the purpose. "These wishes of 135 crore Indians are the blessings of the country for all of you before entering the field of sports," said the Prime Minister.

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