PM Modi meets Asian Games medalists and highlights great show by women athletes
PM Modi’s Full Message to Asian Games Athletes:
When hard work turns into victory, your faces light up along with the medals and the entire nation glows with pride.
My fellow athletes, you have given 1.4 billion Indians an opportunity to feel proud. The greatest achievement, if there is one, is to enhance the pride and honor of the tricolor. You have upheld the honor of our national flag. Therefore, your success does not belong to you alone. It is the achievement of millions and millions of citizens of this country.
On behalf of all Indians, I congratulate you all once again. My sincere thanks also to your coaches, support staff and families.
Today we also commemorate the birth anniversary of our former president Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. His life and vision continue to inspire us all. I pay my respects to him too.
This edition of the Asian Games is memorable for us in several ways.
Our men’s and women’s hockey teams are present here. Both teams won gold medals this time. In particular, our women’s hockey team ended a long wait of 44 years by winning gold.
In cricket, both our teams won medals for the second time in a row. Not only that, they also broke their own records.
In kabaddi, our men’s and women’s teams won gold medals. Similarly, we won five gold medals in archery. Our shooters gave a great performance, we also achieved great success in boxing and wrestling.
Our athletes set new records. India won a weightlifting medal after 28 years. For the first time since 1982, India also achieved success in the marathon. This is really encouraging.
I especially want to acknowledge our daughters. Out of the 85 medals won by India, 30 were won by our female athletes. These included 11 gold medals.
These medals are not just numbers. They present a strong image of the New India.
Today, India is winning medals in sports where we have never won any before in the history of the Asian Games. These include mixed martial arts, soft tennis and certain gliding events. Our athletes created history by winning medals in these disciplines for the first time.
My fellow athletes, we must now reach even greater heights in sport. Should we or shouldn’t we? We have to achieve even more, don’t we?
I’m going to share a few resolutions with you. I want you to respond with full enthusiasm and say, “We’ll do it!”
So repeat after me:
The tricolor will fly high on every field!
The honor of the tricolor will shine on every field!
A new identity for India through sports!
New champions in every sport!
New achievements and new records in our name!
My fellow sportsmen, the stadium we are in today is named after Major Dhyan Chand. His devotion to hockey was so great that he practiced for hours even at night.
His hard work reminds us time and time again that resolutions and dreams don’t come true in a single day. It takes years of patience and constant hard work to achieve them.
Over the past 12 years, India has also worked with great patience and determination to develop its athletes and the country’s sports ecosystem.
Look where we once were. India could only win a handful of medals in major tournaments. There were several sports that people in the country didn’t even know existed.
Earlier, when an event as big as the Olympics was held, India did not even have representation in more than half of the sports.
Just think about it. If we don’t compete, how can we get medals?
My fellow athletes, we have decided to put an end to this pessimistic mindset. As a result, India’s presence is now growing on all global platforms.
How did this transformation come about?
It happened because of the same spirit that helped you achieve success. Over the past 10 to 12 years, the country has made consistent and dedicated efforts and worked with a long-term vision to build a transparent and modern sports ecosystem.
As you all know, we have launched the Target Olympic Podium Scheme or TOPS and the Khelo India scheme. Over time, we expanded their scope.
As mentioned earlier by Mansukh Bhai, more than Rs 36,000 crore has been allocated to expand Khelo India and strengthen sports federations.
Today, more than 1000 Khelo India centers have been established across the country. Stadiums, mini-stadiums and multi-purpose sports halls were built. Tracks, soccer fields, hockey fields and swimming pools are being built in thousands of places across cities and smaller towns.
As part of these programs, athletes also receive direct financial assistance, including pocket money.
Under the TOPS scheme, athletes are paid Rs 50,000 per month. If an athlete needs to travel abroad for training in a particular sport, the government will also facilitate this and provide financial assistance.
My fellow athletes, we have introduced events like the Winter Games and started MP sports competitions to give young people more opportunities to play and compete.
The country has also introduced a new sports policy, Khelo Bharat, to strengthen the sports environment.
Our para-athletes also bring glory to the nation with their talent and skills. We try to provide them with better opportunities and a modern background in sports.
That is why every athlete today has confidence that the country stands by his path.
And when athletes have this confidence, just look at what they can achieve for the nation. You all are great examples of that.
My fellow athletes, several members of Team India in these Asian Games were just 15 to 17 years old. At such a young age, they have made the country proud with their outstanding performances and won the hearts of millions of Indians.
This shows that age is no barrier to success. In sports, starting at a young age can actually be an added advantage.
That is why we work to identify sports talents at an early age. We place special emphasis on the identification and training of children between the ages of five and 15.
In the coming years, thousands of budding athletes will get opportunities to progress through Khelo India and Emerging Khelo India.
We must further strengthen our preparation for the upcoming sports competitions.
The Los Angeles Olympics will be held in 2028. India will host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and the country aspires to host the 2036 Olympics.
With these goals in mind, I spoke from Red Fort about launching a talent scouting campaign.
Today, talent is discovered and nurtured by reaching villages across the country. These athletes will bring medals to India in the years to come.
My fellow sportsmen, our dreams are big, our resolve strong and India today has the confidence to fulfill these ambitions. Every Indian shares this confidence.
Therefore, I say with full conviction:
We will host major sporting events in India!
We will do it!
India will become one of the best sports countries in the world!
India will become a global sports hub!
India to build world class sports infrastructure!
A champion will emerge from every corner of India!
The success we achieved at the Asian Games also reflects the changing mindset of the country. It is an example of how Indian youth aspires to reach new heights.
There is no milestone beyond the determination of the Indian youth. There is no goal beyond the capabilities of our youth.
An endless sky of possibilities lies before them and the youth of India are choosing their own destinations.
This is why India has quickly become the third largest startup ecosystem in the world.
Our young people are founding companies in the space sector and working on satellite technology. They develop new technologies in the defense sector and conduct innovative experiments in the field of artificial intelligence.
This transformation is not limited to big cities.
Just as sports opportunities are now reaching talented individuals in remote areas, young people from smaller towns and villages are coming up with new ideas for startups, research and other entrepreneurial activities.
Behind this confidence lies the confidence created by the systems and opportunities that the country has developed over the last decade.
Young people now believe they can dream big because they know the country’s full potential is behind them to help turn those dreams into reality.
My fellow athletes, the benefits of our efforts are not limited to those who compete on the field.
New career opportunities are also emerging in areas such as sports coaching, physiotherapy, sports management and sports broadcasting.
With the development of sports, many related professions are also growing, creating new avenues for employment and entrepreneurship for young people.
My fellow athletes, whatever field we work in, we have to work hard to achieve success. At the same time, we must also take responsibility for shaping the next generation.
You now have experience competing in international tournaments. That’s why I encourage you to spend some time with the children who dream of following in your footsteps.
You have to feed their dreams with your hard work and experience.
Success comes when we make the most of the opportunities we are given. Whenever you have the opportunity, meet the children in your villages and towns. Visit the schools and return to the field where you first started playing.
Your experience can be extremely valuable to these children. Perhaps a few words from you could give a child the courage to pursue a sports career.
My fellow athletes, the young people of this country draw more than just sports inspiration from you. The role of sport is not limited to the playing field.
Sports teach us discipline. It teaches us how to get back up after a fall, how to turn defeat into victory, and how to stay committed to a goal for a long time.
It also teaches us how to adapt to changing circumstances. These lessons from sports become part of our daily lives.
This sporting spirit stays with us throughout our lives.
I’ve always said: he who plays will flourish.
So keep playing and flourish.
Once again, I wish you all the best in your upcoming competitions and future endeavours.
Your enthusiasm and confidence are among New India’s greatest strengths. With this confidence we have to take India to even greater heights.
So let’s raise our voices together once again:
Advanced India!
Viksit Bharat till 2047!
We will do it!
We will do it!
A place among the top three world economies!
Independent India!
Global Manufacturing Center!
India’s leadership in technology!
Progress in space!
Organizing the Olympics!
Winning medals in new sports!
Yes, we will!
I wish you all the best. Thank you very much.