India Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated athletes for their performance in the recent Paris Olympics while addressing the nation from Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day on Thursday, August 15. Notably, India finished on the 71st position in the medal tally at Paris Games with a total of six medals at the Games.
PM Modi acknowledged the efforts of the Indian contingent in Paris and congratulated them for their phenomenal performances. He also mentioned that the nation will move forward towards bigger goals with their constant efforts and also extended his good wishes to para athletes ahead of Paralympics beginning from 28th August.
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“My dear countrymen, today we have the youngsters who raised our tricolor at the Paris Olympics. I would like to congratulate all our athletes on behalf of 140 crore Indians. We will move ahead with new dreams and resolutions and achieve them with our constant efforts. In a few days our para-athletes will also be flying to Paris for the Paralympics, I extend by best wishes to them as well,” said PM Modi during his speech.
PM Modi also said that the nation will try their best to host the 2036 Olympics in India. Notably, India’s medal-winning shooters Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh, hockey player PR Sreejesh among other athletes were present at the Red Fort to listen to his speech.
India’s account at the Paris Olympics was opened by Manu Bhaker who won the bronze medal in the 10 am air pistol event and ended India’s 12-year-long wait for a shooting medal at the Olympics. The 22-year-old further added another medal to India’s tally by clinching her second bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event alongside Sarabjot Singh.
Neeraj Chopra wins silver in Javelin Throw
As a result, she became the first Indian post-independence to win two medals at the Games in a single edition. She also became just the fourth Indian to win two Olympic medals at an individual event. The third medal to India’s tally was added by Swapnil Kusale who also bagged a bronze 50m Rifle 3 Positions. Indian men’s hockey team bagged the fourth medal by defeating Spain by 2-1 in the bronze medal match.
Neeraj Chopra was the first and only athlete to change the medal colour for India in Paris as he bagged silver in Javelin Throw by attaining a distance of 89.45 metres. Wrestler Aman Sehrawat was the last medal winner from India who bagged a bronze in Men’s freestyle 57 kg wrestling beating Puerto Rico’s Darian Cruz. The 21-year-old became the youngest Olympic medallist from the country.