Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged India’s Asian Para Games athletes to focus on the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles after their impressive performance at the recently concluded Aichi-Nagoya Para Games.
PM Modi met the Indian contingent at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi on Thursday, November 5, and interacted with the athletes.
Congratulating the participants on their achievements, the Prime Minister emphasised that their success should inspire greater ambitions.
“The podium at Aichi-Nagoya is not the final stop of your journey. You must use this success as a launching pad for even greater goals. The next goal for India and most of you is LA 2028. Avani and Manish have already secured their quotas for LA,” he said.
PM Modi urged the contingent to maximise India’s representation at the upcoming Paralympics and aim for the highest possible medal tally.
The Prime Minister encouraged athletes to celebrate Diwali with pride while beginning preparations for their next sporting challenge.
PM Modi recalled his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, where he encouraged young people to participate in a nationwide talent identification campaign with the Olympics in mind. He described sports as an important instrument for personality development and nation-building.
According to him, sporting activities teach discipline, teamwork and resilience while helping young athletes overcome defeat.
The Prime Minister highlighted initiatives aimed at developing India’s sporting ecosystem. He mentioned the establishment of Khelo India centres across the country. He further highlighted the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which provides athletes with specialised training.
PM Modi said grassroots campaigns and talent identification programmes would help discover emerging sporting talent. He further encouraged the athletes to maintain their determination and prepare for LA 2028 with renewed commitment, aiming to strengthen India’s presence on the global Paralympic stage.
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