Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the Indian contingent bound for the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022 on Wednesday via video conferencing. The interaction was attended by both athletes as well as their coaches. Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and Information & Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur and Secretary for Sports were also present.
Prime Minister wished the Indian contingent for Commonwealth Games on International Chess day. The Chess Olympiad is also taking place from 28 July in Tamil Nadu. He wished them for making India proud, as their predecessors did before. He informed that more than 65 athletes are participating in Commonwealth for the first time and he wished them to make a tremendous impact. He advised them to “play with all your heart, play hard, play with full force and will play without any stress”.
Modi said the current period is in a way the most important period in the history of Indian sports. Today, the spirit of players is also high, the training too is getting better and the atmosphere in the country towards sports is also tremendous. All of you are climbing new peaks, making new peaks, he said.
To those who are entering the big international arena for the first time, the Prime Minister said that only the arena has changed but not the spirit and stubbornness for success. “The goal is to see the tricolor fluttering, to hear the national anthem being played. That’s why don’t take pressure, make an impact with a good and strong game”, he added.
During the interaction, the Prime Minister enquired from Avinash Sable, an athlete from Maharashtra, about his life experience of coming from Maharashtra and working in the Indian Army in Siachen. He said that he got to learn a lot from his 4 years stint in the Indian Army. He said that discipline and training he received from the Indian Army would help him shine in whichever field he would go.
Modi interacted with Ms Treesa Jolly, a badminton player from Kerala. PM enquired how she chose badminton when Kannur where she comes from is popular for football and farming. She said that her father motivated her to take the sport. PM enquired about her friendship with Gayathri Gopichand and partnership on field. She informed that a good friendship bond with her field partner helps in her sport. The PM also asked about her plans for celebration while coming back.
Prime Minister interacted with Ms Salima Tete, a hockey player from Jharkhand. The PM asked about the journey of her and her father in the field of hockey. She said that she was inspired seeing her father play hockey. He also interacted with Sharmila, a para athlete in shotput from Haryana. The PM also enquired about her coach Tekchand Ji who is a former paralympian to which Sharmila replied that he has been her inspiration throughout her career.
