PM meets Indian contingent for Rio Olympics

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posing for photograph with members of Indian contingent for Rio Olympics, at New Delhi on Monday. Also seen in picture is Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posing for photograph with members of Indian contingent for Rio Olympics, at New Delhi on Monday. Also seen in picture is Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh.

Excelsior Correspondent

NEW DELHI, July 4: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi today met athletes and other sport-persons who will be a part of Indian contingent for the Rio Olympics.
Modi met each member individually, besides interacting informally with them. He encouraged the athletes to perform to the best of their ability in the world’s biggest sport event.
Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports, was also present on the occasion.
Several former Olympians including MC Mary Kom, Anju Bobby George and P. Gopichand were among those present at the gathering.
Prime Minister also responded to the request of writing autographs for several Olympian participants. He was enthusiastically followed by sports-persons seeking selfie with him.
Speaking on the sidelines of the function, Dr Jitendra Singh observed that this was the first time that Indian contingent had crossed three-digit figure of 100 and hoped that, for the first time, the India’s Olympics medal tally would also cross two-digit figure. It was a great gesture on the part of Prime Minister, he said,to have spared his valuable time to cheer these youngsters.
Renowned Sports personality Abhinav Bindra complimented in a tweet “For the first time ever, there is a send off by PM for the Olympic team…”. Another noted former athlete Anju Bobby George said, PM sending off team is itself very motivating.
Over 100 Indian athletes from 13 different disciplines have qualified for the Rio Olympics. Their level of confidence is very high and they are highly motivated to give their best.
Union Secretary for Sports Rajiv Yadav, coaches for different disciplines and heads of various Sports federations were also present on the occasion.