PM Modi meets and charms athletes

www.mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, Oct 16, 2014: Floored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s informal demeanour and a “motivating speech”, India’s Asian Games medalists could not stop hero worshiping  him after a breakfast meeting on Tuesday October 14.

The Prime Minister hosted the medallists at his residence, where he felicitated the medal winners and some coaches. Those in attendance included top woman boxer M CMary Kom, shooter Jitu Rai, the men’s hockey team and wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt among others.

 

“It was a fantastic experience when Prime Minister sir addressed us. His words were convencingly motivating. He told us that we will be offered all the help and our needs will be taken care of,” said Jitu. “The whole shooting contingent was there and he shook hands with each one of us, spoke to us and ensured that we felt comfortable,” he said.

Squash player Joshna Chinappa, who along with Dipika Pallikal won the team silver at the Games in Incheon, said it was an overwhelming experience. “It was a once in alifetime experience for me. It is not everyday that you get to meet the Prime Minister. There was a lot of hype but he came across as a very simple person. I would say it was the highlight of my career, may be more than winning the Commonwealth Games gold medal,” she said.

Hockey players V R Raghunath and Manpreet Singh were equally bowled over the Prime Minister’s charm. “We seldom get a chance to meet the Prime Minister of the country. But Mr Modi was very gracious and was very eager to know about our needs and problems. It was a wonderful experience to meet him,” said Raghunath Manpreet added, “It was a dream-come-true moment for me to meet the Prime Minister. He was a wonderful host. He told us that he was trying his best to develop the facilities for hockey so as to help in regaining the past glory of the sport. Mr. Modi told us if we have any need we should approach the SAI. He said he has instructed the concerned authorities to extend all possible help in order to develop infrastructure for the game and promote the sport at the grassroot level in India.” Modi has also granted an additional Rs 450 crore for the development of sports in the country, Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Sarbananda Sonowal said. “An additional grant of Rs 450 crore was made by our Prime Minister to encourage sports, which were unheard of in the past and this initiative was taken, for the first time,” Sonowal said after the meeting.