Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted members of India’s triumphant Asian Para Games contingent at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi on Thursday. The event was held to celebrate the nation’s historic performance at the competition in Japan, where the Indian team achieved a record-breaking fourth-place finish on the medals table.
India recorded its most successful outing in the history of the event, securing an unprecedented total of 114 medals. The haul consisted of 30 gold, 35 silver, and 49 bronze medals, surpassing the previous record of 108 medals set during the 2022 Hangzhou Games. The delegation comprised 168 para-athletes, including 61 debutants, who competed across various disciplines.
Addressing the athletes and officials, Prime Minister Modi praised the participants for their resilience and dedication. He remarked that their achievements have become a source of profound inspiration for the nation. "Your magnificent performance shows that India is emerging as a great power in the world of sports. You have not only won medals, but you have also won the hearts of millions of Indians," the Prime Minister stated.
Reflecting on the evolution of the national sporting ecosystem, the Prime Minister noted that historical barriers that once discouraged youth from pursuing professional sports are being dismantled. He highlighted that the government is committed to ensuring that talent is no longer hindered by a lack of institutional support. "The system that hampered your progress, we decided to change that system. Now, if a youngster has faith in his talent, he also has the belief that the country is standing by him," he added.
The Prime Minister specifically lauded individual performances, including that of javelin thrower Rinku Hooda, who secured a gold medal despite facing significant personal challenges, including a childhood accident and the loss of his mother shortly before the tournament. Modi remarked that such displays of determination had deeply moved the country.
To sustain this momentum, the government is prioritizing the expansion of athletic infrastructure and domestic equipment manufacturing. Prime Minister Modi pointed to the recently approved sports goods manufacturing scheme under the Khelo India initiative, which is valued at over Rs 1,800 crore. This scheme is intended to bolster the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sector while creating jobs in rural and urban regions.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya credited the Prime Minister’s vision for the transformation of the sports sector, noting that India has climbed from a 15th-place standing in 2014 to the current fourth-place position. Mandaviya highlighted a structured five-year development plan backed by a Rs 36,000 crore provision. He emphasized that the government now ensures that para-athletes and able-bodied athletes are accorded equal status and opportunities within the national framework.
The event concluded with a collective acknowledgment of the efforts made through the Fit India Movement and the Khelo India Scheme, which have played central roles in developing a robust athletic ecosystem. The government remains focused on integrating these initiatives to maintain India's upward trajectory in international sporting competitions.
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