With the Commonwealth Games 2022 set to kick off in Birmingham on July 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with CWG-bound Indian athletes through a virtual session. Also present during the event was Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, who praised PM Modi for his constant support to the Indian athletes.
Speaking to the athletes, PM Modi highlighted how July 20 was also known as the International Chess Day and with World Chess Olympiad set to begin in Tamil Nadu on the day when CWG 2022 kicks off, it’s a big opportunity for all Indian athletes to proved their mettle in the next 10-15 days.
“Play well with all your strengths, without stress. You must have heard the saying ‘Koi Nahi Hai Takkar mei, Kyun Pade Ho Chakkar Mei’, so play with the same attitude at Commonwealth Games,” PM Modi to India’s CWG 2022 squad.
“Today is July 20th, it’s a very important day for the world of sports. Some of you would be aware that today is also the International Chess Day. It is also very interesting that the day the Commonwealth Games 2022 will kick off in Birmingham on July 20, the same day, in Tamil Nadu’s Mahabalipuram, Chess Olympiad will kick off. In the next 10-15 days, Indian athletes have a golden opportunity to prove their mettle to the world. I wish each and every athlete all the very best. Many of you have already made the country proud by doing well in several big sporting events,” he said.
Earlier in the session, Sports Minister Anurag thanked Modi for his constant support and words of encouragement for the Indian athletes.
“Whether it was the Tokyo Olympics or Paralympics, you motivated all the athletes before their departure for the event. Not only this, at the Women Boxing Championship and even when India won its first gold medal at the Thomas Cup, you met all the athletes and boosted their morale. There would rarely be a country where the Prime Minister motivates the athletes, irrespective of whether they have won a medal or not,” Thakur said.
Earlier, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Saturday (July 16) named a 322-member strong contingent for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The contingent includes 215 athletes and 107 officials and support staff
