THE golden period of Indian sports is knocking on the door, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday as he hailed the gutsy show of the Indian contingent which returned with 61 medals from the Commonwealth Games. PM Modi on Saturday hosted the Indian contingent at his residence to felicitate the players here. The Indian athletes produced a sensational show in Birmingham, claiming 61 medals, including 22 gold, 16 silver and 23 bronze. “The real assessment of this performance can’t be made with just number of medals, our athletes competed neck-to-neck. There may have been a difference of 1s or 1cm but we will make that up I am confident of that,” Modi said during his speech. “It is just a start and we are not going to just sit quietly, golden period of Indian sports is knocking on the door.” “We have the responsibility of making a sporting system which is the best in the world, inclusive, diverse and dynamic. No talent should be left out as they are all assets.” While India produced a dominating show in badminton, wrestling and weightlifting, the athletes also did well in athletics, judo and lawn bowl, where they won India’s first-ever medal in the Games. “Not only are we strengthening the sports that we have been strong in but have also left a mark in new sports. In hockey we are trying to get our legacy back,” Modi said.

 

“Since the last time, we have won medals in four new sports, from lawn bowls to athletics, our performance has been spectacular. This performance will help increase youth’s interest in new sports. We have to improve our performance in new sports.” The Indian team also won a silver in women’s T20 cricket which was introduced for the first time at the CWG. “Under Harmanpreet’s (Kaur) leadership, India has produced a fantastic performance in cricket. All players have done well but no one had the antidote to Renuka’s (Thakur) swing bowling. It is not a small feat to be the top wicket taker among the greats.” Modi also noted that the achievements of the athletes coincided with the celebrations of India’s 75th Independence day. The felicitation programme was attended by most of the CWG-returned athletes, including the wrestlers, weightlifters, boxers, shuttlers and table-tennis players. Modi also congratulated the chess players who competed and won medals at the Olympiad which was hosted in Chennai.

 

While addressing the medal winners, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the strength of the national flag and its significance in the safe evacuation of students from war-torn Ukraine, the tricolour had become a protective shield not only for Indians but also for people of other countries in coming out of the battlefield. He further said, “What is the power of the tricolour, we have seen this in Ukraine some time ago. The tricolour had become a protective shield not only for Indians but also for people of other countries in coming out of the battlefield.” Notably, the Government of India had launched Operation Ganga earlier this year to evacuate students stranded in war-torn Ukraine. Prime Minister’s observation comes on the day when the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign was started under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to encourage people to bring the Tiranga home and to hoist it to mark the 75th year of India’s independence. The programme envisages inspiring Indians everywhere to hoist the national flag at their homes.

 

The PM said it is a matter of pride that with the hard work of the athletes and inspiring achievement, the country is entering ‘Azadi ka Amrit Kaal’. Lauding the achievements of Indian athletes in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, PM Modi said the athletes not just won medals for the country but strengthened the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ and inspired the youth in every sector. “You not only give a medal to the country, you not only give an opportunity to celebrate, be proud but also strengthen the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. You inspire the youth of the country to do better not only in sports but also in other sectors,” he said. “All of you were competing there, but crores of Indians were watching you here. Till late night, your every action, every move was being tracked. Many people went to sleep after setting alarms to watch your performance,” stated PM Modi.