New Delhi, India, August 10, 2021: India’s medal-winning athletes from the Tokyo Olympics were felicitated by the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur, on Monday, August 9.
The seven Olympic medallists – Neeraj Chopra (gold medal in athletics), Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver, wrestling), Mirabai Chanu (silver, weightlifting), PV Sindhu (bronze, badminton), Bajrang Punia (bronze, wrestling), Lovlina Borgohain (bronze, boxing) and the Indian men’s hockey team (bronze) were welcomed at the Ashoka Hotel in New Delhi.
Others present at the programme were the Minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Nisith Pramanik, Secretary Sports Ravi Mittal and Director General, Sports Authority of India, Sandip Pradhan.
Former Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju praised the performances of all athletes and reiterated that India would be a force to be reckoned with by the 2028 Olympics.
“This is a historic event with India registering its best-ever performance in the Olympics. This is just the beginning because India’s resurgence in sport is visible now and I am confident that, by the 2028 Olympics, India will be a force to reckon with,” Rijiju predicted.
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said: “Tokyo 2020 was an Olympic Games of many firsts for India. The success of Team India at the Olympics is a reflection of how New India desires and aspires to dominate the world, even in sports. The Olympic Games showed us that with self-discipline and dedication we can be champions.”
The Sports Minister pointed out that there were many firsts – a 128-member Indian contingent, seven Olympic medals, first Olympic gold medal in athletics, two successive medals in consecutive Olympics by PV Sindhu, a medal won by the Indian men’s hockey team after a gap of 41 years and a historic entry to the semi-finals by the women’s hockey team.
“We also had the first female sailor from India, Nethra Kumanan, qualify for the Olympics; the first Indian fencer, Bhavani Devi, make it to the Olympics; the best place achieved by an Indian in equestrian eventing, Fouaad Mirza; the best-ever finish for the Indian rowers; the highest-placed finish by an Indian in golf, Aditi Ashok, who finished fourth in the women’s individual; and a national record was set in the steeplechase by Avinash Sable,” Thakur said.
“Let me add, the foundations of sport in India are firm. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, various schemes such as TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) and Khelo India have shown results ensuring a podium finish. We will continue to support our sportspersons and we endeavour to make India a sporting powerhouse.”