PM Modi Praises Athlete for Winning Medals and Inspiring a Generation, Shares Light-Hearted Exchange During Meeting.

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised an Indian athlete for her remarkable contribution to Indian sports, saying that her achievement went beyond increasing the country’s medal tally and had helped inspire and prepare an entire generation of sportspersons.

During an interaction with the athlete, PM Modi congratulated her for her achievements and assured her of continued support and success in the future. The conversation also featured several light-hearted moments, with the athlete sharing personal anecdotes from her sporting journey.

The athlete recalled an incident involving an Army coach named Narendra Rana. She said that after she and another player had gone to the hospital to get stitches following an incident, the coach jokingly pointed out that her name was Narendra, her coach’s name was Narendra, and the Prime Minister’s name was also Narendra. The coach told her humorously that he had developed a dislike for the name “Narendra.”

The conversation turned emotional when the athlete admitted that she was nervous while speaking to the Prime Minister.

“My heart is also beating fast, sir,” she said.

PM Modi responded reassuringly, telling her not to worry. In a lighter vein, he added that she might even earn a medal for speaking well during the interaction.

The athlete also spoke about how her friends used to tease her by asking whether she was “meeting Modi” whenever she encouraged them to do something for their own good. Referring to the meeting with the Prime Minister, she said that she could now tell her friends that she had indeed met PM Modi.

Athlete Credits SAI for Commonwealth Games Medal

The athlete recalled winning a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and said that she had publicly credited the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for helping her achieve the feat.

She explained that winning a medal had always been her dream, but she initially lacked an adequate training centre. After joining SAI, she received the opportunity to train extensively, which helped her improve significantly and eventually win the medal.

PM Modi praised her humility and thanked her for remembering the support she received.

“It is a matter of great honour for me. You did the hard work and remembered me. I am very grateful to you, my friend,” the Prime Minister said.

Discussion on Training in Varanasi, Bhopal and Ujjain

During the interaction, PM Modi asked the athlete about her training experiences in different parts of the country.

When he asked whether she had trained in Varanasi, she confirmed that she had. She said she had travelled there for around 10–12 days of training and also visited a temple during her stay.

The athlete said she had developed a particular liking for Varanasi and expressed her desire to settle there in the future because she was deeply drawn to Kashi Vishwanath.

PM Modi also asked about her training in Bhopal and whether she had visited Ujjain. The athlete replied that she had visited Ujjain as well as the Mahakaleshwar temple.

The Prime Minister then noted that she had visited both Kashi Vishwanath and Mahakal and reminded her that the month of Sawan was currently underway. The athlete said she planned to visit again after returning home.

Athlete Acknowledges Support from SAI and Khelo India

The athlete also expressed her gratitude towards the Sports Authority of India for its continued support, saying that its assistance had played a major role in helping her reach the level she had achieved.

She recalled participating in the inaugural Khelo India edition in 2018, where she won a silver medal. She said she had also seen PM Modi during the opening ceremony of the event.

According to the athlete, the Khelo India scheme provided her with valuable support and helped her progress in her sporting career.

PM Modi Says Medal Success Reflects India’s Growing Sports Culture

PM Modi emphasised that sporting infrastructure alone was not enough to make India a successful sporting nation. He said medals would come when a strong sports culture was created across the country.

“Sports infrastructure is one thing, but a country wins medals when a sports culture is created in the country,” PM Modi said.

He praised the athlete for bringing glory to the nation and inspiring others through her achievements.

“You have done a great job. You have brought glory to the country. I congratulate you and believe that you will continue to emerge victorious. We will meet here again,” the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi also highlighted the athlete’s achievement of winning medals for the country on three consecutive occasions and congratulated her for her consistency.

Birthday Celebration Adds a Personal Touch

The interaction ended on a warm and personal note when the athlete revealed that the previous day had been her birthday. She expressed her happiness at getting the opportunity to eat a ladoo from the Prime Minister’s hands.

PM Modi immediately congratulated her on her birthday and encouraged her to smile.

The interaction concluded with the Prime Minister reiterating a popular message associated with India’s sporting vision: “Jo khelega, woh khilega” — those who play will flourish.

The exchange highlighted not only the athlete’s sporting achievements but also the role of institutional support, training facilities and initiatives such as SAI and Khelo India in helping Indian athletes pursue their ambitions and compete successfully at the international level.