With just 10 days to go for the Olympics, PM Modi hosted a virtual press conference on Tuesday where he interacted with many of India’s Tokyo Olympics-bound athletes like javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, archers Deepika Kumari and Pravin Jadhav, shooters Saurabh Chaudhary and Elavenil Valarivan, boxers Mary Kom and Ashish Kumar, paddlers Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra, wrestler Vinesh Phogat, tennis star Sania Mirza among others. The event was also attended by new sports minister Anurag Thakur along with MoS Nisith Pramanik and former sports minister Kiren Rijiju, who now is the law minister.
PM Modi asked Sindhu how her preparations are going on. To which, the 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist said she chose to practice in Gachibowli because the Olympic stadium is big.
The premier jokingly asked Sindhu about her diet restriction and recalled if the chief national coach of the Indian badminton team Pullela Gopichand took away her phone and prohibited her from eating ice cream during the Rio Olympic games.
PM Modi, then, promised to have ice cream with her after the Olympics games. “Work hard and I am confident that you will be successful once again. And when you all come back from the Olympics, I will have ice cream with you,” he said before bursting into laughter.
The Prime Minister also asked him if he has any message for the parents of kids who are hesitant about them playing sports. “I want to say that if kids stay healthy all will be good and sports help in that,” Ramana said.
Addressing the athletes at the end of the hour-long virtual event, Modi said: “I would liked it even more if we had had the opportunity to host you at my residence in New Delhi and interact with you face to face. But unfortunately, it was not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many athletes representing the nation are already abroad for training. But once you return from the Games, I promise to meet all of you personally. Coronavirus has changed everything, including the year of the Olympic Games (from 2020 to 2021) and the way you train. You will encounter a different atmosphere at Tokyo too.”
Calling the athletes a “reflection of new India”, Modi said: “Some of you started your journey from the fields in villages. Others have been part of sports academies since the start. But now all of you represent Team India.”
While urging the athletes not to take pressure on themselves to win, he said: “Looking at you and your energy, I can say confidently that soon winning will be a habit for new India. This is just the start.”
