Prime Minister Narendra Modi met India’s trailblazing Paralympians at his residence on Thursday to congratulate them for his or her record-smashing haul of 29 medals on the recently-concluded Paris Games. In a 43-second video shared by the sports activities ministry, the PM might be seen congratulating the medal winners earlier than an interplay with them. Sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) head Devendra Jhajharia had been additionally current throughout this interplay.
Wheelchair-bound shooter Avani Lekhara, who gained a second successive Paralympic gold in girls’s 10m air rifle (SH1) and visually-impaired judoka Kapil Parmar, India’s first Paralympic medal-winner within the sport, had been amongst those that had been seen posing with the PM. Parmar could possibly be seen getting his medal signed by Modi.
The Prime Minister on Instagram posted a video of his assembly with star javelin thrower Navdeep Singh, who clinched gold medal within the F41 classification on the Paris Paralympics 2024.
During the assembly, Navdeep requested PM Modi that he needed to place a cap on the Prime Minister’s head. The duo then shared a heartwarming second because the PM Modi sat right down to let Navdeep fulfil his want.
“Main yahan baithta hun, tum pehnao. (I am sitting here, you put the cap on my head).
“Lag raha hain na tum bade ho (Don’t you get a sense that you’re taller/greater)?” PM Modi mentioned whereas shaking arms with Navdeep. The athlete smiled again in response.
Navdeep’s aggression after his each try on the javelin ultimate grew to become a speaking level. His power was even in comparison with that of star India cricketer Virat Kohli.
“Baad mein itna gussa kaise karte ho (Why do you get so much angry after the throw)?” requested PM Modi.
Navdeep replied: “Sir, last time I came fourth. This time I had promised you and I have done it (won the medal).”
India gave its best-ever efficiency within the Paralympic Games by profitable 29 medals, together with an unprecedented seven gold, 9 silver and 13 bronze medals.
The 84-strong contingent surpassed the earlier better of 19 medals that was achieved within the Tokyo Games three years in the past.
The stupendous efficiency included many firsts resembling medals in monitor occasions of athletics, and a gold in archery (by means of Harvinder Singh).
Since returning to the nation, the Paralympians have been feted by the federal government with sports activities minister Mandaviya handing out Rs 75 lakh to the gold-medallists, Rs 50 lakh to the silver winners and Rs 30 lakh to the athletes who bagged bronze within the Games.
Those excelling in combined groups occasions, like armless archer Sheetal Devi, who gained a bronze together with Rakesh Kumar, obtained richer by Rs 22.5 lakh.
(With PTI Inputs)
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