The Indian contingent, which returned from the Paris Paralympics left their hotel in the national capital New Delhi this morning to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Indian team had come back this week after a scintillating show at the multi-sport event, with 29 medals which broke all previous records of 19 medals won during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
Bronze medalist Simran Sharma of the Paris Paralympics termed the opportunity to meet PM Modi a matter of pride for all of them. “It feels great and is a matter of pride for us. PM Modi supports us even before we compete. His encouragement makes athletes feel special, and that is probably one reason behind our success,” Sharma said. She further revealed that she plans to gift her sprinting spikes to the Prime Minister.
Star para javelin-thrower Sumit Antil said, “The entire contingent is excited. PM Modi has motivated us earlier, and his encouragement gives us a feeling that he belongs to the family. This meeting whets our appetite for upcoming events.”
Another athlete more eager to meet the Prime Minister was Harvinder Singh, a gold medalist in para-archery. “I am very happy to meet PM Modi after becoming a champion in Paris. This historic medal is important for our country. I am bringing one of my arrows used in the final as a gift for him,” Singh said.
“Meeting PM Modi will bring long-term benefits,” said para-discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya. “We are thrilled to be able to celebrate our victory with him. It’s great that the Prime Minister takes the time for one-on-one interactions. This meeting will inspire us for future interactions. I am bringing my discus as a gift,” Kathuniya said.
Expressing pride and excitement, gold medalist Navdeep Singh elaborated, “It’s a wonderful feeling to meet the Prime Minister. We feel so proud for this opportunity afforded to us. We are both excited and delighted.”
The Indian contingent finished the Paris Paralympics with their best-ever haul of 29 medals, comprising seven golds, nine silvers, and 13 bronzes. The previous record was 19 medals in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. India finished the event in 18th place overall.
The meeting of the team headed by PM Modi symbolizes the culmination of the remarkable achievements of the team and the continued support they receive from the nation’s leadership.
ANI
