NEW DELHI, Oct 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday felicitated India’s Asian Games medal-winners, including the gold-winning men’s and women’s cricket teams, at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in Delhi and was presented with memorabilia ranging from signed jerseys to a bow from 17-year-old archery sensation Kumkum Mohod.
The PM posed for pictures with the contingent that was accompanied by top officials of the sports bodies, including International Cricket Council Chairman Jay Shah. “You have made 140 crore Indians proud. The biggest success is to make the tri-colour fly high. That’s why your success is not just yours but it belongs to crores of our countrymen. I congratulate you on behalf of the entire country,” the PM said in his address to the medal winners.
He specially emphasised the achievements of the women athletes. “Out of the 85 medals won by the Indian contingent at the Asian Games, 38 are brought by the women athletes. 11 of them were gold and it is a very special moment for India. I would like to congratulate all the women athletes for their performance,” said PM Modi.
“Today, both men’s and women’s hockey teams are here. Both of them have won the gold medals for India, especially the women’s team, who clinched the gold for the first time in 44 years. It’s a big moment for the entire country,” Mr Modi said.
(Manas Dasgupta)